| April 2004 | Tornado (F3) | Peru | 8 killed, 7 hurt | The tornado entered LaSalle County from Putnam County, approximately 3 miles northeast of the town of Standard, producing F0 intensity damage in a wooded area southwest of Peru. As the tornado continued northeast, F2 intensity damage was done to several homes in a subdivision near the intersection of East 250th and 2569th Roads. Several roofs were blown off homes along with damage to external walls. Significant tree damage was done as well. Path width was estimated at 50 yards at this location. The tornado then continued northeast, crossing the Illinois River twice as it moved toward the town of Utica, downing a steel high tension tower on the north bank of the river, immediately west of Illinois 251. The tornado moved into the southwest side of Utica where it was F0 intensity. Homes along Washington Street only had tree and minor roof damage. A church steeple was damaged on Division between Johnson and Washington. Roofs and trees were more severely damaged on the south side of Johnson Street. The tornado rapidly increased to F3 intensity on the north side of Johnson Street where one home had its roof taken off and north walls blown out. A machinery building was completely destroyed on the south side of the canal and a semi-tractor trailer was blown into the canal. A large grain bin was blown across the canal and flattened. The tornado then moved north of the canal into the heart of town where several homes were severely damaged, garages were destroyed and brick buildings collapsed. Eight people died and seven were rescued from the basement of a turn of the century sandstone building at Clark and Church Streets. The tornado was approximately 250 yards wide at this point. On the east edge of the vortex along Mill Street, in downtown, buildings suffered damage to facades, roofs and windows. East of Mill Street there was damage to trees and minor roof damage. In the northeast section of town a mobile home was overturned on Grove, just east of Mill Street. The vortex crossed the railroad tracks and apparently dissipated on a steep bluff on the northeast side of town. At the top of the hill there were some trees and limbs down and some debris deposited. See Storm Data for Northwest and Central Illinois for results of Tornado Damage Survey for Putnam and Bureau Counties, IL |
| February 2017 | Tornado (EF3) | Utica Airpark Arpt | 2 killed, 14 hurt | The first area of significant damage in the EF2 range was in the area around the La Salle County Nursing Home and La Salle County Highway Department, with lighter damage upstream from this location. The tornado continued into Naplate and produced widespread EF2 damage to numerous homes. EF3 damage also was identified in two locations. The first was where a minivan was thrown about 30 yards and a home was lifted off its foundation and left with only its interior walls intact. The second was at the Pilkington Glass plant where one section of the factory was completely destroyed. The tornado then crossed the Illinois River and moved through the south side of Ottawa, producing an 800 yard wide path of EF1 damage to trees and homes. The fatalities in Ottawa occurred from a tree falling onto two men who were working outside. The tornado then crossed the Illinois River again and continued to produce EF1 and EF0 damage as it exited Ottawa, finally dissipating in the area northwest of Marseilles. (Tornado #2 of 7). |
| April 2013 | Flash Flood | Lake Holiday | 1 killed, $75,000,000 | County emergency managers estimated that over 500 buildings were damaged by flooding across La Salle County. In Marseilles, 1500 people were evacuated due to a compromised levee which led to dozens of homes and facilities being flooded along the river front. Several barges broke loose from a tugboat on the Illinois River and rammed into the levee. Five of the eight locks were damaged such that they could not close completely. Flooding occurred in Utica east of Route 178 resulting in evacuations on the I&M Canal. Creeks were reported out of their banks in Mendota. A woman was killed on Route 351 as it passes over the Illinois River near Peru. She drove around barricades and became stranded in knee-deep water. Her body was found about two weeks later approximately 70 yards downstream. |
| June 2010 | Tornado (EF2) | East Wenona | 17 hurt, $7,000,000 | Shortly after the Magnolia, IL tornado lifted, the same supercell thunderstorm went on to produce another tornado near the Marshall and LaSalle County line. National Weather Service damage survey teams found the damage from this tornado began just west of 2900 E Road and about one quarter mile south of 1250 N Road, or N 12th Road, which is the road that marks the county line. The tornado crossed north of 1250 N Road at Interstate 39. See Stormdata for Illinois, Central for the beginning of this tornado. ||This tornado continued eastward tracking along and just north of 12th Road, producing primarily EF0 to EF1 intensity damage, largely in the form of downed trees, power lines, and very minor structural damage. ||After the tornado moved past E 9th Road, the damage became more sporadic, which corresponded with spotter and storm chasers who reported that the tornado was not continuously on the ground before it reached Streator. Damage became more consistent again as the tornado moved east of E 12th Road, remaining just north of N 12th Road. The tornado appears to have remained on the ground from this point east into the city of Streator. The damage from E 9th Road east to E 15th Road was rated EF0 intensity and consisted primarily of minor tree damage.||The tornado appears to have intensified as it moved into the city of Streator with EF2 intensity damage near the Eagle Pass subdivision where there was significant tree damage, along with portions of roofs removed from well built single family homes. The tornado continued eastward across southern portions of the city of Streator, damaging numerous homes and completely destroying several homes. Some of the most intense damage in Streator occurred along Hall Street and near Southside Athletic Park, where damage was rated higher end EF2. The most intense damage occurred through an approximately one quarter mile wide path through the city of Streator.||Twenty one homes were uninhabitable and had to be destroyed. Another 33 homes were uninhabitable and had to undergo major repair. Another 150 homes had some degree of damage. ||A few businesses were also damaged including the Engle Lane Theater, an auto salvage business, an auto repair shop, and a landscape and nursery business. ||The tornado then continued eastward out of the city of Streator producing additional EF0 to EF1 intensity damage just north of the Livingston and LaSalle county border. The tornado appears to have jogged slightly southward before lifting near the county line, just to the west of E 22nd Road. |
| May 1985 | Hail | not stated | 14 hurt | no account filed |
| July 1985 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | 8 hurt, $250,000 | no account filed |
| September 2008 | Flood | Lake Holiday | 5 hurt, $15,000 | Widespread flooding across parts of La Salle County slowly receded through September 17th. Five teenagers were injured on the evening of September 14th when the driver of the vehicle they were in, lost control on a water covered road. The car entered a ditch and flipped over. |
| May 1999 | Lightning | La Salle | 5 hurt | Lightning struck the flagpole at Hall High School. A side flash affected 5 students sitting near windows in a 4th floor classroom. One student was taken to a hospital. The others suffered only a minor tingling sensation. |
| August 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Oglesby | 3 hurt | Trees were blown down in Matthiessen State Park. Three women were injured by falling trees. One woman was treated at the scene in the Dells Area. Two women were injured in the River Area. One suffered head, neck and shoulder injuries but was able to walk back to a parking area to get help. The second woman was pinned to the ground by a fallen tree and was extricated by first responders. She was taken to a local hospital. |
| May 1988 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | 2 hurt, $250,000 | no account filed |
| July 2018 | Lightning | Sheridan | 2 hurt | An 18 year old male and a 4 year old girl were critically injured as they passed under a tree that was struck by lightning at Robertson Field near East Church Street. The 4 year old girl may have taken a direct hit from the lightning strike. |
| April 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | not stated | 2 hurt | no account filed |
| July 1972 | Tornado (F0) | not stated | 1 hurt, $2,500 | no account filed |
| August 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | (Vys) Illinois Valley Regional Airport | 1 hurt | A semi truck was blown over on Route 251, north of Peru. The driver was injured. |
| August 2011 | Lightning | Ottawa | 1 hurt | A man working near a window in his basement felt a big jolt, as lightning struck near his house. He later found a natural gas line damaged by the lightning and while on the way to buy replacement parts, his right arm became numb. He stopped at fire station, who then transported him to a local hospital. He was not expected to have any long lasting injuries. |
| April 2000 | Lightning | Oglesbey | 1 hurt | A 53 year old man was struck by lightning. He had injuries to his hand and foot. He was hospitalized in serious condition. |
| July 2003 | Hail | Ottawa | 1 hurt | no account filed |
| July 2003 | Lightning | Oglesbey | 1 hurt | no account filed |
| June 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | not stated | 1 hurt | no account filed |
| September 2008 | Flash Flood | Garfield | $5,000,000 | Flash flooding or significant flooding was reported across much of LaSalle County, including street closures due to flooding, basement flooding and creek, stream and river flooding. Numerous houses were under water in the northwest and southwest part of Sheridan which is near the Fox River. Several evacuations were conducted. Northeast of Utica, County Roads E 10th and and N 31st were closed with up to one foot of water covering the roads. A canoe launch area in Streator along the Vermillion River was submerged. Flooding was reported in Wedron, Utica, Earlville and Marseilles. The wastewater treatment plant in the City of LaSalle suffered significant damage. Numerous vehicles were submerged or abandoned in flood waters. |
| September 2008 | Flood | Seneca | $5,000,000 | The Illinois River reached a record crest of 33.79 feet at LaSalle on the 16th. Major flooding occurred along the river in LaSalle County. In Marseilles, flood waters inundated Illini State Park and nearby areas. Flood waters inundated the Peru power plant. Brunner and Water Streets were closed due to flooding. Navigation on the river was halted as most lock facilities were submerged. The Interstate 39 bridge was the only one open as State Highways 251, 351, and 178 were closed. Homes and businesses in Utica were flooded. In Ottawa, 89 residents of a nursing home were evacuated. Dee Bennett Road between Ottawa and Utica was closed. Central Elementary School in Ottawa was surrounded by water and the auditorium was flooded with 8 inches of water. |
| July 2021 | Flash Flood | Seneca | $1,200,000 | A slow moving thunderstorm produced torrential rain and flash flooding across portions of eastern La Salle County including in Seneca. Vegetation was flattened near many creeks and channels due to the fast moving flood waters. Along Hog Run, vegetation was flattened near North 21st Road with debris near the road. Along North 2350th Road near Armstrong Run, flood waters flowed over the roadway with debris in the channel. North La Salle Road was flooded, just south of Dupont Road with debris piled on the side of the road along with erosion in the channel. There was substantial deposition of sediment from a nearby sand and gravel facility across Dupont Road near Deadly Run. A substantial stretch of Dupont Road was flooded with extensive mud marking on pavement, east of Route 170 near a marina. Just west of Route 170, the east abutment to the River Road bridge over a small creek was washed out. A local highway department staff member was driving over this area when the washout occurred. His truck became stuck on remaining pavement on either side of the washout. The driver needed to be rescued and refused medical treatment. Scouring occurred on both sides of the creek with vegetation collapsed or partially collapsed. Homes on Timmons Lane were flooded with one home suffering a basement wall collapse. Further west near River Road and Lake Street, flooding of several houses occurred as Spring Brook Creek overflowed with water flowing over fields and into the houses. Significant damage occurred to vegetation where Spring Brook Creek crossed River Road. Rainfall of 4.24 inches was reported during a 3 hour period, one mile east of Seneca. The damage amount was estimated in consultation with local emergency management officials. |
| July 2015 | Hail | Marseilles | $1,000,000 | There were numerous reports of hail of up to 3.75 inches in diameter across portions of Marseilles. A picture of the largest hail was received via social media. A car dealership reported 40 damaged cars, 10 of which had shattered windshields. A greenhouse was shattered. The siding on numerous houses was damaged. |
| August 2007 | Flood | Wedron | $1,000,000 | Heavy rain throughout the month over southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois caused the Fox River to crest at 17.33 feet at Dayton on August 24. This was more than 5 feet above flood stage. Basements and garages were flooded along the river in Wedron and Ottawa. |
| June 2014 | Tornado (EF1) | Earlville | $250,000 | An aerial survey from local media showed clear convergent swirling and scarring near Earlville. A short lived tornado touched down embedded within a larger area of straight line wind damage. Numerous trees were blown down with damage to roofs and a garage blown out on the south and southwest portions of town. Maximum winds were estimated to 110 mph. |
| August 2007 | Flash Flood | Ottawa | $250,000 | Several inches of flowing water over Route 23 in and north of Ottawa. Flash flooding occurred in Utica as Clark Run Creek overflowed its banks sending floodwaters down the main part of town. According to reports, about 45 residents responded to a request for evacuation. Widespread basement flooding was reported in the Peru-La Salle areas. Many streets and county roads flooded within La Salle County. Flash flooding was also reported in Triumph, Naplate, and Grand Ridge in La Salle County. Dee Bennet Road near Buffalo Rock State park was closed due to flooding. Portions of Route 178 were also closed. |
| August 1987 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| September 1986 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| April 1984 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| June 1975 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| November 1965 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| November 2013 | Tornado (EF2) | Rutland | $150,000 | This is a continuation of a tornado that began in Tazewell County (NWS Central Illinois) and tracked across Woodford County, entering NWS Chicago county warning area in La Salle County, and finally ending in Livingston County. The tornado entered La Salle County approximately half a mile east of State Route 251 north of Minonk where several power poles were snapped at the base along County Line Road. On E 7th Road, a home had large portions of the roof removed. Small outbuildings were completely destroyed. More power poles were snapped on E 8th Road and again on N 2nd Road near the intersection of E 10th Road. A machinery shed was completely destroyed on N 2nd Road about half a mile west of Dana. On E 11th Road just north of Dana, an addition to a home was completely leveled with several outbuildings destroyed. This tornado entered Livingston County just northeast of Dana around 11:41 AM CST. Maximum wind speeds were estimated to be up to 135 mph. |
| July 2008 | Flash Flood | Cedar Pt | $150,000 | Heavy rain fell across parts of western LaSalle County during the early morning hours of July 12th. Basement flooding was reported in Peru and in LaSalle. Near Route 251 and Route 6, fast moving water deposited mud on a restaurant's patio and dining room floor. In Mendota, significant flooding was reported at the 4th Avenue viaduct and many roads were flooded, some roads suffered minor damage. A creek that runs behind Northbrook School in Mendota overflowed its banks, flooding nearby roads. East 7th Road was closed east of Mendota and south of Meriden and Route 34 where flood waters pushed a 6 foot diameter drainage pipe up through the road. Rainfall totals included 3.52 inches in Peru, 3.37 inches in Mendota and 2.96 inches in Oglesby. |
| June 2015 | Flash Flood | (Mmo)Marseilles | $100,000 | Interstate 80 was flooded and closed between mile markers 93 and 99. Several cars were swept into the median. At least one person had to be rescued from the roof of her mostly submerged vehicle. |
| June 2015 | Tornado (EF1) | Prairie Center | $100,000 | Several trees were snapped or uprooted, including one tree that fell onto a house. Peak winds were estimated to be 90 mph. (Tornado 5 of 10). |
| June 2015 | Tornado (EF1) | Mendota | $100,000 | A tornado crossed through the center of Mendota resulting in significant tree damage. Some trees were blown down onto structures and at least one fell onto a vehicle. The tornado touched down near the intersection of Knoll Crest Drive and S Park Avenue where numerous hardwood trees were snapped. One to three inch branches were broken as the tornado crossed 13th Avenue. A large trunk was split on Washington Street. Trees were uprooted on 5th Street near 5th Avenue. Hardwood trees were snapped on N 1st Avenue, including one that fell onto a pickup truck. Maximum winds were estimated to be 105 mph. (Tornado 4 of 10). |
| February 2008 | Flood | Welland | $100,000 | Heavy rain and melting snow on frozen ground caused flooding of roads, fields, and basements across many parts of LaSalle County. |
| October 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ottawa | $100,000 | no account filed |
| June 2011 | Flash Flood | Ottawa Arpt | $75,000 | Street and basement flooding was reported in Ottawa. Water in some basements was several feet deep. A sink hole was found next to a driveway on Main Street. |
| June 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mendota | $50,000 | Severe winds blew down around half a dozen trees on the southwest side of Mendota. One tree fell onto a home causing damage. A few utility poles were also blown down. Some homes had shingle damage. |
| June 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mendota | $50,000 | Two semi-trucks were flipped over on I-39 and numerous tree branches were blown down in Mendota. |
| August 2011 | Lightning | Ottawa | $50,000 | A house in Ottawa was struck by lightning. |
| June 2011 | Flood | Marseilles | $50,000 | Minor street flooding along with some basement flooding was reported. Storm total rainfall amounts of 1.50 inches were measured in Marseilles. |
| May 2009 | Lightning | Leland | $50,000 | Lightning struck a house on Grant Street in Leland. All of the electrical wiring and plumbing in the house was destroyed, but there was no fire. The lightning apparently traveled 300 to 400 feet through the water lines rupturing a water main. The lightning also caused a large hole in the roof and blew out some windows. The occupants of the house were home when the lightning strike occurred but were not injured. |
| August 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Oglesby | $50,000 | A delivery truck and trailer were blown against a guard shack and destroyed just west of Interstate 39 in Oglesby. Another trailer was tipped over and the roof of thrid trailer was blown off. |
| October 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Peru | $50,000 | A roof was blown off a hotel in downtown Peru. |
| July 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ottawa | $30,000 | Numerous trees, tree limbs and power lines were blown down across Ottawa. Two homes were damaged by falling tree limbs. Route 23 was closed due power lines that fell across the road. |
| June 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Tonica | $25,000 | A semi was overturned on Interstate 39. Widespread tree damage occurred in Tonica. |
| June 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Peru | $25,000 | A semi truck was flipped over by winds on Interstate 80 near mile marker 75. |
| August 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Oglesby | $25,000 | A mobile home being hauled by a semi was blown over on Interstate 39, just north of the Olgesby exit. |
| April 2006 | Flash Flood | Marseilles | $25,000 | Torrential rains caused street flooding in Marseilles. Several creeks overflowed, along with portions of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, causing some damage to structures along the paths. Rainfall amounts between 2 and 3 inches were reported in only one hour. |
| April 1991 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $25,000 | no account filed |
| June 1978 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $25,000 | no account filed |
| June 1977 | Tornado | not stated | $25,000 | no account filed |
| September 1961 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $25,000 | no account filed |
| September 1959 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $25,000 | no account filed |
| June 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Tonica | $20,000 | Two barns were destroyed. |
| July 2011 | Lightning | Ottawa | $20,000 | Lightning damaged the chimney of the historic Reddick Building, which was built in the 1850s. Falling bricks damaged an air conditioner and broke a window. |
| August 2007 | Lightning | Peru | $20,000 | Lightning struck a house in Peru, which started a fire in the attic causing damage to the house. |
| June 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Peru | $15,000 | Several trees snapped in half or blown over. Siding and shingles were ripped off of a house and heavy yard objects were tossed around. A section of a plastic fence was broken and tossed. Damage confined to a small area near the intersection of Shooting Park Road and Peoria Street. |