Sitting on the Vermilion River in the middle of the Illinois prairie, Streator has had its share of severe weather. Our History of Streator page mentions the 1951 flood; this page collects the major storms and floods that shaped the community and how residents responded.
The Tornado of July 17, 1903
The deadliest storm in Streator’s recorded history struck the west side of town on July 17, 1903. Tornado historian Thomas Grazulis rated it F3. Six people were killed and about 30 injured. The worst of it came at a racetrack: a group of people took shelter under the grandstand, which collapsed on them, killing five.
Extremes of Heat and Cold
Streator’s temperature records show what a prairie climate can do. The highest temperature ever recorded in the city was 112°F, during the great heat wave of July 1936, the summer of the Dust Bowl. The lowest was 25 degrees below zero, in January 1985.
The Flood of 1951
The Vermilion River has always been both an asset and a danger. In 1951 it rose to a flood stage of about 18 feet, swamping low-lying parts of town. Today flood-control works along the river help protect the town. The Hopalong Cassidy River Trail along the Vermilion runs on part of that flood-control system.
The EF2 Tornado of June 5, 2010
At about 8:50 p.m. on June 5, 2010, during a regional tornado outbreak, an EF2 tornado swept through southern Streator. It touched down east of Magnolia and strengthened as it moved east toward the city. In Streator it destroyed about 20 homes, damaged about 180 more and injured 17 people. No deaths were reported.
The EF3 Tornado of June 11, 2026
On June 11, 2026, during a multi-day severe weather outbreak across the Midwest, a large multi-vortex tornado touched down south of Long Point in Livingston County at 5:32 p.m. and tracked north past Ancona. It strengthened as it crossed Illinois Route 23 and the Vermilion River, then reached peak strength in the southeastern part of Streator, where several homes were heavily damaged and one was rated low-end EF3. Accounts list dozens of homes damaged. Injury counts vary between sources, with figures of at least four and of seven reported. North of town the tornado leveled outbuildings and tipped a railroad caboose off the tracks.
A Second Twister in 2010
The National Weather Service reported that the June 5, 2010, storm was not alone. A second tornado touched down about one mile west of Streator that same evening. It was much smaller, with a base estimated at about 50 feet. Taken together, the two tornadoes made that night one of the most frightening in the city’s modern history.
Lessons and Resilience
Each disaster changed the city a little. Improved warnings, sturdier construction and better flood control have reduced the toll since 1903. In 2010, despite heavy property damage, no deaths were reported in Streator.
Preserving the Record
Photos and newspaper coverage of these events are part of Streator’s historical record, and many families keep their own memories of rebuilding. If you have photos or stories from the 1951 flood or the 2010 and 2026 tornadoes, local historical groups like Streatorland would like to preserve them.
Related Streator History
- Streator History Overview
- Clarence E. Mulford: Streator's Creator of Hopalong Cassidy
- Hardscrabble to Streator: The Early Settlement Years
- Streator's National Register Landmarks: Historic Homes and Buildings
Sources
- Streator, Illinois – Wikipedia (Climate; Notable weather events; 1903 tornado, citing Grazulis, Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streator,_Illinois
- Tornado outbreak of June 5-6, 2010 – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tornado_outbreak_of_June_5%E2%80%936,_2010
- Tornado outbreak and derecho of June 9-11, 2026 – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tornado_outbreak_and_derecho_of_June_9%E2%80%9311,_2026
- Hopalong Cassidy River Trail – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopalong_Cassidy_River_Trail
