IL

Storm restoration across Randolph County

Randolph County sits in far southwestern Illinois along the Mississippi River, placing it squarely in a high-frequency severe weather corridor. The county has recorded tornadoes ranging from F1 to F3 going back to the 19th century, with documented strikes near Chester, Tilden, and throughout the rural interior; the prime tornado season runs April through June. Large hail and straight-line wind events are a recurring hazard, driven by fast-moving supercell thunderstorms that track northeast out of Missouri, and the region sits in the path of multi-state derechos that have produced winds exceeding 80 mph with flash flooding. The Mississippi River's western boundary creates persistent flood exposure: Route 3 closures and levee-watched crest events have been documented repeatedly, most notably during the 1993 flood and recurring high-water years, while interior drainage and flash flooding accompany the heaviest spring rainfall totals. Winter storms bring ice accumulation and heavy snow that damage roofs and trees across the county's ridge-and-bluff terrain.