Illinois tornadoes

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3,148 confirmed tornadoes since 1950. Most recent: December 28, 2025, EF0. 2026 so far: 244 preliminary reports preliminary

Counties with the most tornadoes

CountyTornadoes since 1950Per 1,000 sq mi
McLean County122103
Will County100120
Sangamon County92106
Champaign County8787
Cook County8792
Macon County79136
Logan County73118
Tazewell County73113
Vermilion County7280
Henry County7186
LaSalle County6658
Madison County6591
Kankakee County6190
St. Clair County5990
Christian County5882

When tornadoes hit here

By month

6660 Jan: 43Feb: 80Mar: 236Apr: 614May: 666Jun: 623Jul: 294Aug: 230Sep: 95Oct: 65Nov: 100Dec: 102JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

May is the peak month, with 666 of 3148 tornadoes.

By time of day

4600 12 AM: 44: 21: 233 AM: 15: 24: 206 AM: 19: 13: 289 AM: 19: 37: 7812 PM: 127: 190: 2153 PM: 320: 358: 4606 PM: 374: 315: 1789 PM: 117: 88: 6512 AM3 AM6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM

Most often around 5:00 PM. Times as recorded by NOAA, mostly Central Standard Time.

By year, 1950 to 2025

1420 1950: 9: 5: 4: 4: 7: 25: 27: 42: 27: 371960: 40: 34: 13: 11: 7: 28: 11: 41: 8: 101970: 17: 16: 30: 63: 107: 46: 27: 33: 13: 121980: 14: 33: 35: 14: 34: 15: 22: 22: 20: 151990: 50: 32: 23: 34: 20: 77: 62: 32: 99: 642000: 55: 21: 37: 120: 80: 21: 123: 23: 49: 522010: 52: 73: 34: 54: 53: 70: 46: 50: 55: 482020: 63: 74: 35: 121: 142: 12619501960197019801990200020102020

The line is the five-year average. Tornadoes before about 1953 were under-reported, and better radar since the 1990s finds more weak ones. This year so far: 244 preliminary reports.

By rating

EF0
1363
EF1
1056
EF2
448
EF3
118
EF4
34
EF5
2
Unknown
127

Ratings before February 2007 use the original F scale; the numbers line up with today's EF scale. Unknown means NOAA could not assign a rating.

Notable tornadoes

Deadliest

F4, April 21, 1967

33 deaths Longest path

156.7 miles, F3

April 9, 1953

Most recent tornadoes

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Dec 28, 2025EF00.2 mi30 yd00
Dec 28, 2025EFU4.9 mi25 yd00
Dec 28, 2025EF03.4 mi75 yd00
Dec 28, 2025EF19.5 mi150 yd00
Dec 28, 2025EF00.85 mi20 yd00
Dec 28, 2025EF02.6 mi100 yd00
Dec 28, 2025EF10.86 mi30 yd00
Dec 28, 2025EF223.36 mi250 yd00
Dec 28, 2025EF10.95 mi125 yd00
Dec 28, 2025EF11.72 mi200 yd00
Oct 3, 2025EFU0.35 mi30 yd00
Sep 20, 2025EF02.36 mi40 yd00
Aug 16, 2025EFU0.13 mi40 yd00
Jul 6, 2025EF00.12 mi50 yd00
Jun 18, 2025EFU0.1 mi30 yd00
Jun 18, 2025EFU0.21 mi50 yd00
Jun 18, 2025EF13.55 mi100 yd00
Jun 18, 2025EF00.08 mi100 yd00
Jun 18, 2025EF11.41 mi200 yd00
Jun 18, 2025EFU2.96 mi10 yd00

Every Illinois county

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Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025. A tornado that crossed a state line counts in each state it touched.