IL

Storm restoration across Lawrence County

Lawrence County occupies the far southeastern corner of Illinois along the Wabash River, placing it in a corridor that draws severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and derechos tracking northeast out of the central plains from late spring through summer. The NWS records 11 tornadoes in the county since 1950, including two F3 events (1963 near St. Francisville, 1974 striking Bridgeport directly), along with large hail and damaging straight-line winds common to supercell and derecho events. The Wabash and Embarras rivers create significant flash and riverine flood exposure; a major flood event in Lawrenceville caused levee failures on four separate levee segments and put water in 158 homes. Winter brings ice storm risk, as central and southeast Illinois lies within the nation's primary freezing-rain belt, with quarter-inch or greater glaze accumulations capable of widespread power outages and structural damage to roofs and trees.