Bureau County, IL Environment & Hazard Risk

• DroughtRelatively High$2.42M/yr expected annual loss, about 9.0 events a year
• TornadoRelatively Moderate$4.24M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• HailRelatively Moderate$885K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.9 events a year
• Strong windRelatively Moderate$1.13M/yr expected annual loss, about 5.9 events a year
• EarthquakeRelatively Low$1.05M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 696 years
• Cold waveRelatively Moderate$2.09M/yr expected annual loss, about 5.1 events a year
• LandslideRelatively Low$4,193/yr expected annual loss, about once every 5 years
• Ice stormRelatively Moderate$139K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• Heat waveRelatively Low$339K/yr expected annual loss, about 6.5 events a year
• Winter weatherRelatively Low$51.44K/yr expected annual loss, about 15 events a year
• LightningRelatively Low$139K/yr expected annual loss, about 43 events a year
• HurricaneVery Low$9,222/yr expected annual loss, about once every 100 years
• WildfireVery Low$4,291/yr expected annual loss, about once every 20,003 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

49 of 13,101 (0.4%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

187

Insured in high-risk zones

45 (24%)

Flood claims since 1978

73

Claims paid since 1978

$244K

• Thunderstorm Wind205
• Hail142
• Winter Storm54
• Winter Weather53 · 1 death
• Tornado32
• Flash Flood29
• Heavy Snow15
• Drought15
• Funnel Cloud15
• High Wind14

• Drought07/01/2005

  Bureau

  $30.68M damage

  What happened

  The drought that began back in June 2005 continued through July and into August 2005 and spread into Eastern Iowa and Northeast Missouri. The drought became severe to extreme across Northwest and West Central Illinois while it was only severe across Eastern Iowa and Northeast Missouri. The drought combined with high heat during the second half of the month decimated the corn crop. At one point during the month of July, the dryness for the calendar year across parts of the area equalled or exceeded the dry conditions during the drought of 1988. By late June the governor of Illinois had activated the Drought Response Task Force in response to severe drought conditions. By late July much of the state was declared an agricultural disaster area by the USDA.Crop loss estimates varied across the entire area. Across Illinois, the worst losses were along the Illinois River Valley with an estimated 40% yield reduction that decreased to around 25-30% along the Mississippi River Valley. In Iowa, loses rapidly decreased the further west one went from the Mississippi River Valley and were near or just slightly below normal upon reaching an Independence to Oskaloosa Iowa line.

• Winter Weather12/08/2008

  Bureau

  1 death

  What happened

  According to the Bureau County Republican newspaper, an indirect fatality occurred when a rural Putnam county 47 year old female was killed on December 8 at about 10 am CST. The Illinois State Police indicated the single-vehicle accident occurred on icy road conditions on Interstate 180, one-half mile north of the Hennepin interchange in Arispie Township in Bureau county.

• Drought08/01/2005

  Bureau

  $3.7M damage

  What happened

  The 2005 drought that started back in June continued through the month of August 2005 and into September 2005. Severe to extreme drought continued across the northern half of Illinois, eastern third of Iowa, and northeast Missouri. Although rainfall was more plentiful during the month, it continued to remain widely scattered. What rainfall did occur helped keep soybean losses to a minimum and preserved what was left of the corn crop. The severe dryness of the drought continued to place it equal to or exceeding the drought of 1988. By the end of August the governor of Iowa had requested areas south and east of a line from Dubuque, to Independence, to Ottumwa (save Buchanan County) be declared an agricultural disaster area.Soybean crop losses generally were estimated at a 10-15% reduction in yield across Illinois, eastern Iowa, and northeast Missouri. There were pockets across eastern Iowa and northeast Missouri where an estimated 20-30% reduction in yield for soybeans was expected.

• Hail2.75" hail09/23/2005

  Princeton, Bureau County

  $2M damage

  What happened

  Also reported by emergency manager, law enforcement, and the fire department.Hail across Princeton ranged from 1.00 inch to 2.75 inches with the most significant hail damage on the south side of the city. State police also reported golfball sized hail (1.75 inch) at the Princeton exit on Interstate 80 (exit 56).

• Lightning05/11/2022

  Dalzell, Bureau County

  1 injured

  What happened

  Lightning struck a home in Dalzell, resulting in a fire and a minor injury to a person inside the home.

• Thunderstorm Wind60 kt wind05/11/2003

  Countywide, Bureau County

  $500K damage

  What happened

  A supercell thunderstorm associated with the larger severe weather outbreak of May 10th moved across Bureau county during the evening hours producing high winds. Numerous trees were downed including a 90 foot cottonwood tree that just missed crushing the Red Covered Bridge 1.5 miles north of Princeton. This bridge is a registered national historic landmark that was built back in 1863 and still open to vehicle traffic.

• Flash Flood07/04/2026

  Depue, Bureau County

• Flash Flood07/04/2026

  Spring Vly, Bureau County

• Tornado1.39 mi path, 10 yd wide06/12/2026

  Normandy, Bureau County

• Thunderstorm Wind51 kt wind06/11/2026

  Normandy, Bureau County

• Flash Flood06/07/2026

  Sheffield, Bureau County

• TornadoEF1, 2.95 mi path, 300 yd wide04/18/2026

  Cherry, Bureau County

• Thunderstorm Wind65 kt wind04/18/2026

  Spring Vly, Bureau County

• Thunderstorm Wind61 kt wind04/18/2026

  Tiskilwa, Bureau County

• PrincetonServes 7,832 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Spring ValleyServes 5,582 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• De PueServes 1,838 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+3 monitoring or reporting
• WalnutServes 1,311 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+5 monitoring or reporting
• LaddServes 1,263 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• WyanetServes 886 · Groundwater · Local government1 health violation+2 monitoring or reporting
• SheffieldServes 821 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• TiskilwaServes 740 · Groundwater · Local government1 health violation