NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Sparta, IL
Every tropical system within 75 miles since 1851 and every tornado within 25 miles since 1950.
Data: NOAA NHC HURDAT2 and NOAA SPC tornado and hail reports, through 2025 · Updated
5 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Sparta, Illinois since 1851, 0 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Olga in 2019. Since 1950, 111 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 14 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 0
- Tropical storms
- 5
- Tornadoes
- 111
- EF3 or stronger
- 14
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
12 deaths in all
What the records show for Sparta
None of the 5 tropical systems was at hurricane strength as it passed Sparta; the strongest was Ike in 2008, a tropical storm with 49 mph winds when its centre passed 20 miles away. The record near Sparta begins with an unnamed storm in 1902; the most recent system was Olga in 2019, a tropical storm 55 miles away. Of the 5 systems, 2 have come since 2000. Sparta is tied for the most tropical storms and hurricanes within 75 miles among the 548 Illinois cities on this site. The highest rating among the 111 tornadoes within 25 miles is EF4, reached 2 times; the most recent, on February 28, 2017, came within 22 miles. The deadliest, an F3 on May 15, 1968, killed 4 people. Of the 111, 5 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 46 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 26. The most recent tornado was on May 19, 2025. Of the 548 Illinois cities, 68% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Sparta. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 92 times since 1961, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Of the 548 Illinois cities, 52% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Sparta.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Sparta
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | OlgaOct 26 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | IkeSep 14 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1941 | Unnamed 1941 stormSep 25 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 20 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 28 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Sparta: a hurricane's worst winds sit within a few dozen miles of its centre, and inland cities are usually past that.
Tornadoes within 25 miles of Sparta
By decade
- 2020s11
- 2010s9(2 EF3+)
- 2000s26(1 EF3+)
- 1990s22(1 EF3+)
- 1980s5(1 EF3+)
- 1970s7(2 EF3+)
- 1960s12(2 EF3+)
- 1950s19(5 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 17, 2013 | EF4 | 25 mi | 10.59 mi | 2 / 2 |
| Feb 28, 2017 | EF4 | 22 mi | 53.47 mi | 1 / 12 |
| May 15, 1968 | F3 | 22 mi | 2 mi | 4 / 60 |
| Mar 11, 2006 | F3 | 9 mi | 53.5 mi | 2 / 12 |
| Apr 27, 1971 | F3 | 15 mi | 4.5 mi | 1 / 20 |
| Apr 5, 1958 | F3 | 15 mi | 60.5 mi | 1 / 8 |
| Apr 19, 1996 | F3 | 24 mi | 11.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 29, 1982 | F3 | 7 mi | 10 mi | 0 / 7 |
| Apr 18, 1975 | F3 | 18 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Dec 21, 1967 | F3 | 11 mi | 29.8 mi | 0 / 15 |
| Dec 18, 1957 | F3 | 18 mi | 5.7 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 18, 1957 | F3 | 9 mi | 2.5 mi | 0 / 1 |
The strongest 12 of 111, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Sparta
The Storm Prediction Center has 92 hail reports within 10 miles of Sparta since 1961, made on 58 separate days. Of these, 44 were 1 inch across or larger, and 4 reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.75 inches (baseball size), fell on May 6, 2003. The most recent report is from August 20, 2022. April has the most reports, 32.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Sparta
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Sparta 1 W, IL, in Sparta at 535 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 88°F and low of 66°F; January is the coolest, at 40°F and 22°F. April and May are the wettest at 5.2 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 2.6 inches; the year adds up to 45.7 inches over 71 days with at least a tenth of an inch. Highs reach 90°F on about 35 days a year, almost all from June to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 109 nights a year. Snowfall averages 10.6 inches a year, most of it in January. That 45.7 inches is more than at 126 of the 146 Illinois stations used on this site (86%). Chester, 15 miles southwest, has its own station (Kaskaskia Rvr Navigation Lock, IL): 42.8 inches a year, 2.9 less than here, and a July average high of 89°F against 88°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40 | 22 | 3.1 | 5 | 3.5 |
| Feb | 45 | 25 | 2.6 | 5 | 3.4 |
| Mar | 56 | 33 | 4.0 | 7 | 0.6 |
| Apr | 67 | 43 | 5.2 | 7 | 0.0 |
| May | 76 | 54 | 5.2 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 84 | 62 | 4.3 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 88 | 66 | 4.7 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 87 | 64 | 3.5 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 81 | 55 | 3.0 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 70 | 44 | 3.3 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Nov | 56 | 35 | 4.1 | 6 | 0.5 |
| Dec | 44 | 26 | 2.7 | 6 | 2.6 |
| Year | 66 | 44 | 45.7 | 71 | 10.6 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Sparta 1 W, IL (535 ft), from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Normals describe the station; the farther a place is from it, and the bigger the difference in height, the more its weather can differ.
Floods, thunderstorm wind and lightning near Sparta
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 106 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Sparta: 89 thunderstorm wind reports, 13 flash floods, 2 floods and 2 heavy rain events. They killed 0 people and injured 3, and the NWS estimated $136,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 81 mph, on September 16, 2016. July has had the most flash floods, 4 of 13. Of the 547 Illinois cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 195 have had fewer than Sparta.
May 25, 2020: thunderstorm wind 10 miles from the centre of Sparta — 1 injured, $20,000 damage.
June 15, 2010: thunderstorm wind 3 miles from the centre of Sparta — 1 injured.
NWS: “Thunderstorm winds destroyed a produce stand just south of Eden. A couple who run the stand went to their pickup truck for cover as the storm approached.”
August 5, 2010: thunderstorm wind 4 miles from the centre of Sparta — 1 injured.
NWS: “Thunderstorm winds blew down numerous large trees, tree limbs and power lines around town. Just northwest of town at a recreational complex, a fifth wheel RV was blown over.”
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, events whose starting point is on record, 1996 to June 30, 2026. Damage is the NWS estimate in the dollars of the year, not insured losses, and NWS notes that some reports are unverified.
Flood insurance claims, disaster declarations and FEMA risk ratings
Randolph County, which includes Sparta, has been named in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1969, 15 of them major disasters (by incident: 7 severe storms, 6 floods, 2 biological emergencies, 1 hurricane). The latest major disaster declaration was Covid-19 Pandemic, on March 26, 2020. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Randolph County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for strong wind; Relatively Moderate for tornadoes, hail and heat waves; Relatively Low for inland flooding and lightning; Very Low for hurricanes. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $35.4 million a year, the 26th highest of 102 Illinois counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $7.5 million (21%), is from inland flooding.
Claims: FEMA, OpenFEMA Dataset FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims – v3, summed over ZIP codes; payments in the dollars of each year, not adjusted for inflation. Declarations: Disaster Declarations Summaries – v2, by county. Retrieved October 25, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
Risk ratings: FEMA, National Risk Index county table, December 2025 (v1.20), retrieved October 26, 2026; ratings compare counties nationwide, are meant for planning and are no substitute for a local risk assessment. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
What counts as a pass, the distances and the sources: how this storm history is built.
Cities near Sparta
- Coulterville, IL8 mi
- Steeleville, IL9 mi
- Chester, IL15 mi
- Red Bud, IL16 mi
- New Athens, IL17 mi
- Pinckneyville, IL18 mi
- Freeburg, IL23 mi
- Nashville, IL24 mi
- Smithton, IL25 mi
- Saint Mary, MO25 mi
- Mascoutah, IL25 mi
- Du Quoin, IL26 mi
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