IL

Storm restoration across Richland County

Richland County sits in southeast Illinois within the National Weather Service Lincoln forecast area and has recorded 18 tornadoes since 1950, including an F4 near Schnell on June 2, 1990 that traveled 19 miles as part of a 66-tornado outbreak. Severe thunderstorms delivering large hail (reports up to 2.5 inches in the region), straight-line winds, and derecho-producing squall lines are recurring warm-season hazards, with storm tracks typically moving northeast across the county. The Little Wabash River and Embarras River both drain through or near the county, making river flooding a persistent threat after heavy rain events, as evidenced by recurring flood-stage monitoring and FEMA flood map updates for Richland County. Winter hazards include ice storms and heavy snow; the county falls within the central Illinois corridor that has experienced widespread ice accumulations and multi-day power outages during major winter storm events.