IL

Storm restoration across Effingham County

Effingham County sits at the crossroads of Interstate 57 and Interstate 70 in south-central Illinois, squarely within Tornado Alley's eastern reach. The county has recorded 27 tornadoes since 1950, with the peak season running April through June; an EF2 crossed the county in April 2018 and an EF0 touched down in February 2026 near Dieterich, where hail up to 2 inches in diameter was also confirmed that day. Derechos and straight-line wind events regularly sweep the region - the July 2024 derecho deposited over 2.6 inches of rain near Watson in a single event and drove flash flooding across the county's low-lying creek drainages. Winter storms bring ice accumulation and heavy snow capable of damaging roofs and collapsing structures, while spring and summer supercells produce large hail that strips shingles and damages siding and gutters throughout the agricultural flatlands.