IL

Storm restoration across Jefferson County

Jefferson County sits in southern Illinois's "Little Egypt" region, where warm Gulf air collides with cold continental air masses to produce significant tornado activity - including F4 strikes in 1896 that killed 14 people and long-track F2 tornadoes spanning 42 miles. The county's spring season (February through May) brings supercell thunderstorms capable of large hail regularly reaching golf-ball to baseball size, and straight-line wind events including derechos that have uprooted trees and damaged roofs across the region. Jefferson County lies within a recognized derecho corridor for the Ohio Valley, and rainfall events have exceeded 100-year storm thresholds, driving flash flooding particularly along low-lying farmland and creek drainages. Winter storms - including ice accumulation and heavy snow - add a secondary damage season, with ice loading responsible for roof failures and downed trees across the county each year.