Boone County, IL Environment & Hazard Risk

• HailRelatively Moderate$933K/yr expected annual loss, about 4.7 events a year
• TornadoRelatively Moderate$3.82M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 4 years
• Cold waveRelatively Moderate$3.19M/yr expected annual loss, about 5.6 events a year
• LightningRelatively Moderate$515K/yr expected annual loss, about 40 events a year
• Strong windRelatively Moderate$800K/yr expected annual loss, about 6.2 events a year
• DroughtRelatively Low$153K/yr expected annual loss, about 10 events a year
• Heat waveRelatively Low$350K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.0 events a year
• EarthquakeVery Low$234K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 935 years
• Winter weatherRelatively Low$51.72K/yr expected annual loss, about 15 events a year
• Ice stormRelatively Low$39.93K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• LandslideVery Low$291/yr expected annual loss, about once every 26 years
• HurricaneVery Low$1,602/yr expected annual loss, about once every 170 years
• WildfireVery Low$2,848/yr expected annual loss, about once every 24,753 years

Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: avalanche, coastal flooding, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

62 of 19,078 (0.3%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

175

Insured in high-risk zones

45 (26%)

Flood claims since 1978

46

Claims paid since 1978

$271K

• Thunderstorm Wind115
• Hail57
• Winter Storm33
• Winter Weather25
• Drought22
• Flood21
• Tornado20 · 1 death
• Flash Flood14
• Cold/Wind Chill12
• High Wind11

• TornadoEF1, 14.01 mi path, 600 yd wide04/01/2023

  Irene, Boone County

  1 death, 40 injured

  What happened

  This tornado crossed into Boone County south of Cherry Valley from Winnebago County. The tornado, which originated in Ogle County, traversed northeastward doing minor damage to farms. As it moved through the town of Belvidere, the storm produced multiple instances of damage to businesses, homes, and trees. Included in this is the partial roof collapse of the Apollo Theatre downtown which resulted in one fatality and 40 injuries. From there, the tornado would travel another 7 miles doing additional damage to trees before lifting near Orth Rd just west of the Boone-McHenry county line.

• Lightning08/10/2001

  Capron, Boone County

  1 death

  What happened

  A line of strong thunderstorms moved southeast from Wisconsin into Northern Illinois during the evening hours of Thursday, August 9th. These thunderstorms mainly blew down trees and power lines at the following locations: Across all of Ogle and McHenry counties; Fox Lake and Wauconda in Lake county; two miles east of Sycamore in DeKalb county; Dundee, Carpentersville, and Aurora in Kane county; Barrington in Cook county; Earlville in LaSalle county; Coal City in Grundy county; and Beecher in Will county. In Bourbonnais in Kankakee county, a 20 foot by 120 foot metal framed storage building was picked up and carried 10 feet. It landed on 9 parked vehicles. The storage building was a total loss and all nine vehicles suffered major damage. A 16 year old boy was struck by lightning at golf course in Capron in Boone county, the boy died two days later on August 11th. Over 50,000 customers lost power during the storms.

• TornadoEF3, 6.8 mi path, 100 yd wide01/07/2008

  Poplar Grove, Boone County

  4 injured, $2M damage

  What happened

  A tornado touched down at 330 pm CST about 1.2 miles north of Poplar Grove in Boone County and ended at 348 pm about 3.2 miles north northeast of Harvard in McHenry County. The tornado crossed the Boone McHenry County line near Hunter Road, about 3 miles northeast of Capron. The first signs of damage were at Quail Trap Road just east of Poplar Grove Road where trees were damaged and sections of roofing were removed from a shed. The tornado intensified to EF2 intensity at Edwards Apple Orchard on Centerville Road. A large barn was destroyed and other buildings were severely damaged. Large trees were snapped or uprooted. The tornado reached its maximum intensity of EF3 at the northeast corner of Centerville Road and Beaverton Road. A two story farm house and garage were leveled and large trees were stripped of all branches. The tornado was about 100 yards wide through this area. The tornado continued east northeast across Stimes Road and eventually crossed the Boone McHenry County line near Hunter Road. Most of the damage through this part of the tornado path was EF1, though it weakened to EF0 near the county line. There was damage to trees, power lines, barns and sheds. A few...

• TornadoEF2, 13.3 mi path, 200 yd wide11/22/2010

  Argyle, Boone County

  $4.5M damage

  What happened

  A tornado which touched down in eastern Winnebago County, crossed into western Boone County and moved across largely open rural fields towards the town of Caledonia. Significant damage occurred to at least six buildings in Caledonia, with approximately 20 additional buildings sustaining minor damage. Several large trees were snapped or uprooted, and a grain bin partially collapsed. The tornado was again likely at EF2 intensity at this time. The tornado then continued northeast from Caledonia, downing several power poles and causing damage ranging from blown off roofs to completely destroying at least three farm outbuildings. One of these buildings, located two miles northwest of Capron, had also been damaged during the January 2008 tornado. The tornado then crossed into McHenry County.

• Thunderstorm Wind65 kt wind08/25/2006

  Belvidere, Boone County

  $400K damage

  What happened

  Huge trees and 40 to 50 power lines blown down. A roof was blown off a house and a semi trailer was blown over.

• Hail2" hail04/12/2014

  Belvidere, Boone County

  $250K damage

  What happened

  Hail to two inches in diameter was estimated on Route 76 near Poplar Grove Airport. Shopping centers in the area reported heavy damage from hail. A Walmart had 129 skylights damaged or broken while a ShopKo was also damaged by the hail.

• Excessive Heat07/27/2026

  Boone

• Excessive Heat07/26/2026

  Boone

• Excessive Heat07/01/2026

  Boone

• Heat06/29/2026

  Boone

• Flood06/12/2026

  Candlewick Lake, Boone County

• Thunderstorm Wind55 kt wind06/11/2026

  Belvidere, Boone County

• Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind06/11/2026

  Belvidere, Boone County

• Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind06/10/2026

  Poplar Grove Airport, Boone County

• BelvidereServes 25,339 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Aqua Illinois-Candlewick DvnServes 6,426 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• Poplar GroveServes 2,372 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+3 monitoring or reporting
• Poplar Grove SouthServes 1,877 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+8 monitoring or reporting
• Four Seasons MhpServes 1,468 · Purchased groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+14 monitoring or reporting
• CapronServes 1,343 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+7 monitoring or reporting
• Poplar Grove West-CountrysideServes 790 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+3 monitoring or reporting
• Greenview Estates MhpServes 710 · Purchased groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting