Government records show 247 natural disaster events affecting the Chicago, IL area (ZIP 60629) — a notably active disaster history. These include 100 extreme cold events, 63 hailstorms, and 53 extreme heat events. Total documented property damage amounts to $89.1M. These events have resulted in 505 recorded deaths and 31 injuries.
The dominant hazard type for Chicago is extreme cold events, with 100 recorded events making up 40% of the area's disaster history. Of these, 20 (20%) were rated at severity level 4 or 5 — the most intense on the normalized scale. The highest recorded severity for cold-related events here is 5/5 (extreme). 149 fatalities have been attributed to extreme cold events in this area. The most recent recorded extreme cold event occurred on Jan 18, 2016.
Hailstorms account for 26% of the disaster record here, with 63 events documented. Hail-related events have caused a combined $750K in documented property damage. The most recent recorded hailstorm occurred on Mar 19, 2025.
Extreme heat events account for 21% of the disaster record here, with 53 events documented. Of these, 32 (60%) were rated at severity level 4 or 5 — the most intense on the normalized scale. The highest recorded severity for heat-related events here is 5/5 (extreme). Heat-related events have caused a combined $775K in documented property damage. 341 fatalities have been attributed to extreme heat events in this area. The most recent recorded extreme heat event occurred on Sep 11, 2013.
Chicago has experienced 10 severe wind events on record. Wind-related events have caused a combined $1.2M in documented property damage. The most recent recorded severe wind event occurred on Jun 13, 2022.
Chicago has experienced 9 floods on record. Of these, 8 (89%) were rated at severity level 4 or 5 — the most intense on the normalized scale. The highest recorded severity for flood-related events here is 5/5 (extreme). Flood-related events have caused a combined $85.2M in documented property damage. The most recent recorded flood occurred on Aug 18, 2025.
Chicago has experienced 6 blizzards on record. Of these, 4 (67%) were rated at severity level 4 or 5 — the most intense on the normalized scale. The highest recorded severity for winter storm events here is 5/5 (extreme). Winter storm events have caused a combined $700K in documented property damage. 15 fatalities have been attributed to blizzards in this area. The most recent recorded blizzard occurred on Dec 29, 2018.
The most significant disaster event on record for Chicago was Flash Flood on Aug 17, 2025, which caused $55M in property damage. Another major event was Lakeshore Flood (Jan 11, 2020), causing $25M in damages. Flash Flood on Aug 18, 2025 also caused significant damage ($1.5M).
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Based on federal and state records, ZIP code 60629 has experienced 247 natural disaster events. The hazard types affecting this area include extreme cold events (100 events), hailstorms (63 events), extreme heat events (53 events), severe wind events (10 events), floods (9 events), blizzards (6 events), tornadoes (5 events), and earthquake (1 event). The primary hazard is extreme cold events, which account for 40% of all recorded events.
Extreme cold events are the most frequently recorded hazard in Chicago, IL, with 100 events documented.
Yes, Chicago (ZIP 60629) has 9 recorded flood events. These floods have caused $85.2M in total property damage. The most recent flood on record occurred on Aug 18, 2025.
Chicago has 5 recorded tornado events in the historical record. Total property damage from tornadoes in this area is $550K. The most recent tornado was recorded on Jul 15, 2024.
The most damaging natural disaster on record for ZIP code 60629 was Flash Flood, which occurred on Aug 17, 2025. This event caused $55M in documented property damage. It was rated at severity level 5/5.
Natural disasters have caused a documented total of $89.1M in property damage in the Chicago, IL area (ZIP 60629). This figure is based on historical records from FEMA, NOAA Storm Events Database, and USGS, and covers events from the 1950s through the present. Actual damages may be higher, as not all events have complete damage assessments.
Data sourced from FEMA (disaster declarations, NFIP flood claims), NOAA Storm Events Database, USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, and NIFC wildfire records. Historical coverage varies by source, with most records beginning in the 1950s–1970s. Full methodology →