Whiteside County, IL Environment & Hazard Risk

• DroughtRelatively Moderate$1.32M/yr expected annual loss, about 11 events a year
• Strong windRelatively High$1.59M/yr expected annual loss, about 5.9 events a year
• HailRelatively Moderate$1.11M/yr expected annual loss, about 3.7 events a year
• TornadoRelatively Moderate$3.54M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• Cold waveRelatively Moderate$2.83M/yr expected annual loss, about 6.1 events a year
• Ice stormRelatively Moderate$203K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• Winter weatherRelatively Moderate$120K/yr expected annual loss, about 16 events a year
• EarthquakeRelatively Low$518K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 791 years
• LandslideVery Low$2,462/yr expected annual loss, about once every 7 years
• LightningRelatively Low$231K/yr expected annual loss, about 41 events a year
• Heat waveRelatively Low$368K/yr expected annual loss, about 5.9 events a year
• HurricaneVery Low$5,056/yr expected annual loss, about once every 131 years
• WildfireVery Low$4,637/yr expected annual loss, about once every 15,586 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

158 of 21,899 (0.7%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

549

Insured in high-risk zones

133 (24%)

Flood claims since 1978

287

Claims paid since 1978

$2.3M

• Thunderstorm Wind215
• Hail124
• Winter Weather63
• Winter Storm61
• Flood39
• Tornado30
• Flash Flood23
• High Wind20
• Drought15
• Funnel Cloud14

• Drought07/01/2005

  Whiteside

  $19.27M 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.

• Drought08/01/2005

  Whiteside

  $2.59M 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.

• Thunderstorm Wind65 kt wind06/18/2010

  Yeoward Addition, Whiteside County

  2 injured, $25K damage

  What happened

  Severe thunderstorm winds blew a semi trailer carrying pretzels onto its side on westbound Interstate 88. Both the driver and passenger suffered minor injuries.

• Strong Wind10/26/2001

  Whiteside

  2 injured

  What happened

  Strong winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts to 45 mph spread across much of Eastern Iowa and Northwest Illinois during the afternoon hours of October 24, through the evening hours of October 25. These winds caused a road construction accident on the evening of October 25, 2 miles east of Erie, Illinois on Interstate 88. Two workers at mile post 19, were trying to cover freshly poured concrete with plastic at about 730 pm CST. The strong wind caught the plastic and wrapped it around them. They then fell into the roadway and were struck by an oncoming pickup truck in the Eastbound lane. Both workers were transported to University Hospitals in Iowa City, Iowa, and were in critical condition upon arrival.

• Thunderstorm Wind02/11/1999

  Sterling, Whiteside County

  1 injured, $28K damage

  What happened

  An intensifying squall line ahead of a strong cold front sent severe thunderstorms racing across Eastern Iowa and Northwest Illinois. Widespread damage from high winds and hail was reported across Southeast Iowa into Northwest Illinois as the storms moved northeast. Several high profile vehicles were overturned by the strong winds, and many downed trees, damaged homes, and farm buildings were reported. In Jo Daviess County two people were injured when the roof was blown off their home, and another man sustained injuries when the semi he was driving was blown over. In Whiteside County one student was injured when strong winds tore a portion of roof off a high school .

• Winter Weather02/06/2025

  Whiteside

  1 injured

  What happened

  According to Illinois State Police, at 8:40 p.m. Wednesday troopers responded to a five-vehicle crash in Sterling, Illinois. Officials said four truck tractor semi-trailers lost traction on the Rock River Bridge and three of the four jackknifed causing the fifth vehicle to crash. One of the drivers of the semi-trailers was taken to an area hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

• Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind06/25/2026

  Sterling, Whiteside County

• Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind06/25/2026

  Douglas Park, Whiteside County

• Thunderstorm Wind61 kt wind05/04/2026

  Hamilton Corners, Whiteside County

• Thunderstorm Wind53 kt wind04/18/2026

  Union Grove, Whiteside County

• Hail1.5" hail04/03/2026

  Sterling Arpt, Whiteside County

• TornadoEF1, 0.09 mi path, 250 yd wide04/03/2026

  Penrose, Whiteside County

• TornadoEF1, 3.72 mi path, 75 yd wide04/03/2026

  Douglas Park, Whiteside County

• Thunderstorm Wind58 kt wind04/02/2026

  Prophetstown, Whiteside County

• Il American-SterlingServes 14,782 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations
• Rock FallsServes 8,620 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+5 monitoring or reporting
• MorrisonServes 4,188 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+3 monitoring or reporting
• FultonServes 3,346 · Groundwater · Local government1 health violation+2 monitoring or reporting
• ProphetstownServes 1,946 · Groundwater · Local government1 health violation+2 monitoring or reporting
• ErieServes 1,479 · Groundwater · Local government2 health violations+6 monitoring or reporting
• AlbanyServes 846 · Groundwater · Local government1 health violation+25 monitoring or reporting
• TampicoServes 689 · Groundwater · Local government1 health violation+2 monitoring or reporting