United StatesIllinoisNWS, FEMA, USGSArchive to October 13, 2026
Illinois: warnings and declarations in 2026
The National Weather Service issued 1,928 warnings for Illinois in 2026 through September, 64% above the average of 1,173 for those months in 2008-2025. The most frequent was the severe thunderstorm warning (1,027). FEMA has made 0 declarations for Illinois this year.
Latest notices in Illinois
NWS ChicagoWarningOctober 6, 2026
Flood Warning: Lake, IL
Expired 7:00 a.m. CDT, October 7, 2026
NWS St LouisWarningOctober 5, 2026
Flood Warning: Pike and Pike, IL and MO
Expired 1:00 p.m. CDT, October 7, 2026
NWS St LouisWarningOctober 5, 2026
Flood Warning: Calhoun and Pike, IL and MO
Expired 1:00 a.m. CDT, October 7, 2026
NWS Milwaukee/SullivanWarningOctober 3, 2026
Flood Warning: Lake and Kenosha, IL and WI
Expired 1:00 p.m. CDT, October 4, 2026
NWS ChicagoWarningOctober 2, 2026
Flood Warning: La Salle, IL
Expired 10:00 a.m. CDT, October 3, 2026
NWS LincolnWarningOctober 2, 2026
Flood Warning: Fulton and Knox, IL
Expired 10:00 p.m. CDT, October 3, 2026
NWS Milwaukee/SullivanWatchOctober 2, 2026
Flood Watch: Lake and Kenosha, IL and WI
Expired 4:00 p.m. CDT, October 4, 2026
Which warnings, watches and advisories does Illinois get?
| Product | Yearly average 2008-2025 | 2025 | 2026 through September | Average, same months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe Thunderstorm Warning | 614 | 704 | 1,027 | 584 |
| Flood Warning | 358 | 102 | 278 | 317 |
| Flood Advisory | 238 | 199 | 233 | 217 |
| Flash Flood Warning | 129 | 134 | 218 | 124 |
| Tornado Warning | 123 | 227 | 333 | 107 |
| Dense Fog Advisory | 69 | 93 | 50 | 47 |
| Winter Weather Advisory | 54 | 57 | 18 | 40 |
| Flood Watch | 52 | 42 | 125 | 47 |
| Severe Thunderstorm Watch | 41 | 21 | 57 | 40 |
| Wind Advisory | 38 | 56 | 33 | 26 |
| Flash Flood Watch | 30 | 0 | 0 | 27 |
| Heat Advisory | 25 | 34 | 50 | 25 |
| Tornado Watch | 21 | 34 | 32 | 19 |
| Cold Weather Advisory | 20 | 37 | 18 | 17 |
| Frost Advisory | 20 | 16 | 9 | 11 |
| Freeze Warning | 18 | 11 | 6 | 10 |
| Winter Storm Warning | 16 | 18 | 6 | 13 |
| Winter Storm Watch | 15 | 16 | 7 | 12 |
| Red Flag Warning | 8 | 19 | 9 | 5 |
| Lake Wind Advisory | 8 | 5 | 6 | 8 |
| Freeze Watch | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| Extreme Heat Warning | 5 | 6 | 18 | 5 |
| Freezing Rain Advisory | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| High Wind Warning | 4 | 4 | 7 | 2 |
| Fire Weather Watch | 3 | 5 | 6 | 2 |
| Lakeshore Flood Advisory | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Extreme Cold Warning | 3 | 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Extreme Heat Watch | 3 | 8 | 9 | 3 |
| Freezing Fog Advisory | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Snow Squall Warning (since 2018) | 2 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
| Blizzard Warning | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| High Wind Watch | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Ice Storm Warning | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Extreme Cold Watch | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Dust Storm Warning | 1 | 7 | 9 | 1 |
| Blowing Dust Advisory | 0 | 5 | 9 | 0 |
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 13, 2026.
How many warnings does Illinois get each year?
Every NWS warning (VTEC significance W) that covered part of Illinois. 2026 is drawn as an outline: the year is not over.
The numbers
| Year | Count |
|---|---|
| 2026 (through September) | 1,935 |
| 2025 | 1,238 |
| 2024 | 1,462 |
| 2023 | 1,348 |
| 2022 | 982 |
| 2021 | 934 |
| 2020 | 1,128 |
| 2019 | 1,596 |
| 2018 | 1,195 |
| 2017 | 1,233 |
| 2016 | 922 |
| 2015 | 1,321 |
| 2014 | 1,052 |
| 2013 | 1,184 |
| 2012 | 912 |
| 2011 | 1,756 |
| 2010 | 1,494 |
| 2009 | 1,360 |
| 2008 | 1,991 |
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 13, 2026.
When in the year?
Sum of 2008-2025; the busiest month is labelled.
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 13, 2026.
FEMA declarations for Illinois in 2026
FEMA has made no declaration for Illinois in 2026 so far.
Source: FEMA, OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. Data as of October 11, 2026.
Recent earthquakes in Illinois
USGSM2.9July 8, 2026
M2.9 earthquake, 20 km ENE of Kenilworth, Illinois
At 7:38 p.m. UTC, July 8, 2026
USGSM3.5June 29, 2026
M3.5 earthquake, 5 km NE of West Salem, Illinois
At 7:05 a.m. UTC, June 29, 2026
Source: U.S. Geological Survey earthquake catalog.
Questions about Illinois's warnings
How many weather warnings does Illinois get a year?
An average of 1,284 NWS warnings a year in 2008-2025, and 1,238 in 2025.
What is the most common warning in Illinois?
The severe thunderstorm warning: 614 a year on average in 2008-2025.
Where do the live warnings come from?
From the National Weather Service's alert feed (api.weather.gov), which AreaZine reads every few minutes. For a warning in force now, the NWS office page and NOAA Weather Radio are the first source; phones receive only the most dangerous warnings as Wireless Emergency Alerts.