Illinois tornadoes
Every recorded tornado since 1950 · 102 counties with a record
Illinois has recorded 3,149 tornadoes from 1950 through 2025, about 65 a year since 2000, with 151 rated F3/EF3 or stronger (NOAA Storm Prediction Center). The deadliest was the April 21, 1967 Chicago tornado (33 deaths in Illinois). Illinois ranks 6th of 52 states and territories by count and 5th of 51 per square mile.
Tornadoes in Illinois, 1950 to 2025
Tornadoes per year (SPC; a tornado that crossed a state line counts in each state it touched).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $1 million
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- $1 billion or more, or 100 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1996: tornado reports rose with NEXRAD Doppler radar, mid-1990s (SPC)
- Tornadoes
- 3,1491950 to 2025
- A year since 2000
- 65average
- Deaths
- 2354,622 injuries
- F3/EF3 or stronger
- 1515% of tornadoes
- Busiest year
- 2024142 tornadoes
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025 (state segments). SPC severe weather database.
Are tornadoes common in Illinois?
Illinois averages about 65 tornadoes a year since 2000, 6th of 52 states and territories by count. The busiest year on record was 2024 (142). Per 10,000 square miles of land, Illinois records 567 tornadoes since 1950, 5th of 51 states and territories by that measure.
Source: NOAA SPC, tornadoes 1950-2025, per 10,000 square miles of land area (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer; places under 1,000 square miles not ranked). Damage colours: Storm Events damage, 2025 dollars.
Which counties in Illinois have the most tornadoes?
Per square mile, DuPage County leads Illinois: 35 days with a tornado record since 1950, 106.8 per 1,000 square miles of land. By raw count, McLean County has the most tornado records (122 since 1950); large counties collect more records simply by covering more ground, so the ranking counts days with a record per unit of area (a storm filed for several forecast zones adds several records but one day).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, days with a record in the county since 1950 per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer); in brackets, the count of records.
When is tornado season in Illinois?
41% of its tornadoes since 1950 fell in May and June. The busiest month is May (666 tornadoes).
The values, month by month
Jan 43 · Feb 81 · Mar 236 · Apr 614 · May 666 · Jun 623 · Jul 294 · Aug 230 · Sep 95 · Oct 65 · Nov 100 · Dec 102 (records).
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, state segments by the month they began, 1950-2025.
What were the deadliest tornadoes in Illinois?
| Date | Counties | Rating | Path in state | Killed | Injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967-04-21 | Chicago · Cook | F4 | 15 mi | 33 | 500 |
| 1990-08-28 | Plainfield · Kendall, Will | F5 | 16.4 mi | 29 | 350 |
| 1967-04-21 | Belvidere to Woodstock · Boone, McHenry | F4 | 25.5 mi | 24 | 450 |
| 1957-12-18 | Murphysboro · Jackson, Williamson, Franklin | F4 | 28.3 mi | 11 | 200 |
| 1982-05-29 | Herrin to Marion · Williamson | F4 | 17 mi | 10 | 181 |
| 2012-02-29 | Harrisburg · Saline, Gallatin | EF4 | 26.09 mi | 8 | 108 |
| 2004-04-20 | Hennepin to LaSalle · Putnam, LaSalle | F3 | 15.8 mi | 8 | 12 |
| 1965-04-11 | Crystal Lake · McHenry, Lake | F4 | 9.1 mi | 6 | 75 |
| 1977-08-21 | Neoga to Toledo · Shelby, Cumberland | F3 | 26.9 mi | 6 | 56 |
| 1956-02-25 | Belleville · St. Clair, ClintonWhole track: IL, MO; 6 deaths | F4 | 42.3 mi | 6 | 20 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (state segments: deaths and path inside Illinois), 1950-2025; counties are the first four the SPC lists for the segment. SPC severe weather database.
Where have the strongest tornadoes tracked in Illinois?
- F2/EF2
- F3/EF3
- F4/EF4
- F5/EF5
- no end point filed
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, start and end points of each track; county lines: Census Bureau cartographic boundaries (2017), via us-atlas. SPC severe weather database. Census cartographic boundary files.
The strongest tornadoes in Illinois
| Date | Counties | Rating | Path in state | Width | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990-08-28 | Plainfield · Kendall, Will | F5 | 16.4 mi | 600 yd | 29 |
| 1957-12-18 | Sunfield · Perry | F5 | 5.4 mi | 200 yd | 1 |
| 1967-04-21 | Chicago · Cook | F4 | 15 mi | 200 yd | 33 |
| 1967-04-21 | Belvidere to Woodstock · Boone, McHenry | F4 | 25.5 mi | 1,200 yd | 24 |
| 1957-12-18 | Murphysboro · Jackson, Williamson, Franklin | F4 | 28.3 mi | 300 yd | 11 |
| 1982-05-29 | Herrin to Marion · Williamson | F4 | 17 mi | 400 yd | 10 |
| 2012-02-29 | Harrisburg · Saline, Gallatin | EF4 | 26.09 mi | 325 yd | 8 |
| 1956-02-25 | Belleville · St. Clair, Clinton | F4 | 42.3 mi | 500 yd | 6 |
| 1965-04-11 | Crystal Lake · McHenry, Lake | F4 | 9.1 mi | 400 yd | 6 |
| 2013-11-17 | East Peoria · Tazewell, Woodford, LaSalle, Livingston | EF4 | 46.36 mi | 880 yd | 3 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database; F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after.
The longest tornado paths in Illinois
| Date | Tornado and counties | Rating | Path in state | Width | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961-07-21 | Adams, Hancock, McDonough, Warren | F1 | 147.4 mi | 10 yd | 0 |
| 1961-05-14 | Clayton to Wyoming · Pike, Adams, Schuyler, McDonough | F3 | 127.1 mi | 100 yd | 0 |
| 1961-03-06 | Jersey, Macoupin, Montgomery, Shelby | F1 | 117.9 mi | 77 yd | 0 |
| 1961-03-06 | Du Quoin · Randolph, Perry, Jefferson, Wayne | F2 | 110.2 mi | 10 yd | 0 |
| 1973-01-18 | Alexander, Massac | F1 | 95.9 mi | 10 yd | 0 |
| 1972-07-17 | Joliet · Marshall, Putnam, Grundy, Will | F3 | 81.5 mi | 200 yd | 0 |
| 1958-10-08 | Machesney Park to Waukegan · Stephenson, Boone, Winnebago, McHenry | F2 | 81 mi | 10 yd | 1 |
| 1958-05-03 | Randolph, St. Clair, Washington, Clinton | F1 | 75.9 mi | 100 yd | 0 |
| 1958-08-15 | Joliet · Lee, DeKalb, Kendall, Will | F2 | 74.5 mi | 100 yd | 0 |
| 2003-05-10 | Blandinsville · Adams, Hancock, McDonough, Warren | F2 | 69.2 mi | 300 yd | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, state segments: path length and width inside the state. SPC severe weather database.
Tornadoes in every Illinois county
All 102 counties: tornadoes whose track touched each, and the strongest
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database: whole tornadoes whose track touched the county (any state segment listing it). SPC severe weather database.
Is Illinois in Tornado Alley?
Tornado Alley has no official boundary; the Storm Prediction Center calls it a media nickname for the central U.S. area of relatively high tornado occurrence. By the record, Illinois ranks 7th of 50 states for tornadoes rated 1 or higher per square mile since 1950 (297 per 10,000 square miles).
Tornado Alley, measured: the states by density and maps of where tornadoes began in two eras.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database and Online Tornado FAQ. SPC's tornado FAQ.
The costliest tornadoes in Illinois
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-11-17 | TornadoMarquette Hgts, Tazewell County A tornado touched down 2.4 miles SE of East Peoria at 10:59 AM CST, then tracked northeastward through parts of East Peoria and Washington before crossing the border into Woodford County at 11:12 AM CST. One man in Washington was killed by the tornado, one woman from Washington died 11 days later from multiple serious ... | EF4 14.16 mi x 880 yd | 3 | 121 | $1.2B |
| 2018-12-01 | TornadoPalmer, Christian County A tornado touched down about 3.2 miles east-southeast of Morrisonville at 5:01 PM CST. It hit a farmstead, destroying 3 barns and severely damaging 4 other out buildings. The tornado was rated EF2 at this location with maximum wind speeds of 112 mph. The tornado continued moving northeastward, hitting several other ... | EF3 12.49 mi x 900 yd | 0 | 22 | $140M |
| 2010-06-05 | TornadoElmwood, Peoria County A tornado crossed the Knox-Peoria County line 1.1 miles west of Elmwood, then continued southeastward through the town of Elmwood. Considerable structural damage occurred to 10 homes, 30 businesses and nearly two dozen vehicles in downtown Elmwood, amounting to approximately $85 million in damages. There was a total ... | EF2 2.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $115M |
| 2013-11-17 | TornadoThomasboro, Champaign County A tornado touched down in an open field about 1 mile SE of Thomasboro at 12:45 PM CST and rapidly moved to the northeast. In less than a minute it increased in intensity, causing damage to 3 nearby farms and pushing 2 farm houses off their foundations. The tornado moved through open fields for about 2 miles at which ... | EF3 14.67 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 6 | $76M |
| 2013-11-17 | TornadoPekin, Tazewell County This tornado crossed the Illinois River from Peoria County at 10:53 AM CST. It tracked through the northwest side of Pekin before lifting 2 miles northeast of Pekin at 10:54 AM CST. Approximately 179 houses and 6 businesses suffered major damage, while 182 houses experienced minor roof damage. In addition, 3 apartment ... | EF2 2.1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 10 | $57M |
| 2013-11-17 | TornadoMetamora, Woodford County This tornado crossed the border from Tazewell County at 11:12 AM CST, then tracked northeastward across rural Woodford County before entering into far southern LaSalle County in National Weather Service Chicago's County Warning Area (CWA) at 11:33 AM CST. It weakened a bit to EF3 intensity but remained between 1/4 and ... | EF3 20.7 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 4 | $32M |
| 2015-06-22 | TornadoPaytonville, Grundy County The tornado touched down near Higgins Road and Dupont Road where softwood trees were snapped. The tornado moved east-southeast where trees and power poles were snapped along N Gorman Road. The most significant damage was noted as the tornado crossed S Carbon Hill Road just south of Division Street, entering Coal City. ... | EF3 7.7 mi x 1,320 yd | 0 | 7 | $31M |
| 1999-04-08 | TornadoWarsaw, Hancock County A tornado developed just west of Warsaw in Hancock County and produced F2 damage to homes in the south part of the community. 2 homes were destroyed while another 30 structures suffered damage, including the high school track and football field and fairgrounds. Trees and branches were blown down in many parts of ... | F3 7.5 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $27M |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $250M, in the dollars of the day) holds: August 28, 1990 (tornado, Will County, 29 killed); May 29, 1982 (tornado, Williamson County, 10 killed).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: property and crop damage as estimated by the National Weather Service, in 2025 dollars.
Are tornadoes becoming more frequent in Illinois?
Illinois's count per decade against the whole country's, and its share. The Storm Prediction Center notes that tornado reports rose especially around the installation of the NEXRAD Doppler radar network in the mid-1990s, so a rising count is partly better detection; the share of the national total is the fairer comparison across decades.
| Decade | Illinois | United States | Illinois's share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 188 | 4,837 | 3.9% |
| 1960s | 203 | 6,863 | 3.0% |
| 1970s | 364 | 8,633 | 4.2% |
| 1980s | 224 | 8,250 | 2.7% |
| 1990s | 493 | 12,205 | 4.0% |
| 2000s | 581 | 12,892 | 4.5% |
| 2010s | 535 | 12,232 | 4.4% |
| 2020-25 | 561 | 8,234 | 6.8% |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, state segments.
The most recent tornadoes in Illinois
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-27 | TornadoStoy, Crawford County | EF0 0.54 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-24 | TornadoHarmony, McHenry County | EF0 0.34 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-21 | TornadoTower Hill, Shelby County | EFU 0.11 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-21 | TornadoEdinburg, Christian County | EFU 0.05 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-21 | TornadoSumner, Lawrence County | EF1 1.08 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-21 | TornadoClaremont, Richland County | EF1 2.11 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-21 | TornadoOil Grove, Crawford County | EF1 1.6 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-21 | TornadoWestport, Lawrence County | EF1 2.65 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-21 | TornadoEaton, Crawford County | EF1 2 mi x 600 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-21 | TornadoAnnapolis, Crawford County | EF1 6.62 mi x 600 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-21 | TornadoBoos, Jasper County | EF2 2.6 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-21 | TornadoNewton Flying Clb Ar, Jasper County | EF2 3.61 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026; the newest months are revised by NCEI as reports arrive. Search the record at NCEI.
Federal disaster declarations for tornadoes in Illinois
FEMA has declared 23 disasters in Illinois for tornadoes, counting its incident type and declarations that name tornado in the title (FEMA files most storm disasters under Severe Storm); 22 were major disasters, the latest on September 20, 2024.
| Declared | Number | Title | Areas named |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-20 | DR-4819 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Floodng | 7 |
| 2021-12-13 | EM-3577 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes | 14 |
| 2013-11-26 | DR-4157 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes | 15 |
| 2009-07-02 | DR-1850 | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes | 8 |
| 2006-03-28 | DR-1633 | Tornadoes and Severe Storms | 6 |
| 2004-04-23 | DR-1513 | Severe Storms and Tornadoes | 4 |
| 2003-05-15 | DR-1469 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding | 16 |
| 2002-05-21 | DR-1416 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding | 68 |
| 1996-04-23 | DR-1110 | Severe Storms and Tornadoes | 5 |
| 1990-08-29 | DR-878 | Tornadoes | 3 |
| 1990-06-22 | DR-871 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding | 16 |
| 1989-01-13 | DR-819 | Severe Storms & Tornadoes | 5 |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), through October 2, 2026. OpenFEMA dataset page.
Next
- DuPage County: the county's whole recordThe Illinois county with the most tornadoes per square mile
- Tornadoes across the United StatesEvery state ranked, by year and month
- Every natural hazard in IllinoisTornadoes, floods, storms, heat and the federal declarations
- Severe thunderstorm wind in Illinois22,068 records
- Hail in Illinois12,331 records
- Winter storms in Illinois8,149 records