IL

Storm restoration across Whiteside County

Whiteside County sits in northwest Illinois along the Rock River corridor and is exposed to the full range of Midwest severe weather. Tornadoes are a recurring threat - the county has recorded 47 tornadoes through 2024, and an EF-1 with 100 mph peak winds touched down in the county as recently as April 2026. Large hail is common with spring and summer supercells, with stones up to three inches reported in the Thomson area during the same April 2026 event. The county lies in a historically documented derecho corridor (Whiteside, Lee, DeKalb, and Kane counties have all taken direct derecho hits), meaning straight-line winds exceeding 80-90 mph can sweep across the county with little warning. The Rock River creates localized flood exposure for Sterling, Rock Falls, Fulton, and other river-adjacent communities, while lake-effect-enhanced winter storms regularly bring heavy snow, ice accumulation, and blizzard conditions that rank among the costliest hazards in the region.