Chicago, Illinois tornadoes

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21confirmed tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chicago since NOAA records began in 1950. Most recent: July 15, 2024, EF0.

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Map

Every tornado path within 10 miles

Tornado paths, 1950 to 2025
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(E)F0(E)F1(E)F2(E)F3(E)F4(E)F5Unrated

Each path is a straight line from where the tornado started to where it ended, which is all most NOAA records hold. Tap a path for its details.

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Recent warnings near Chicago

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The record

At a glance

Total21within 10 miles, 1950 to 2025
Per year0.3average since 1950
Peak monthJuly9 of 21
StrongestF4Apr 21, 1967
Deaths34whole paths, see note
Injuries631whole paths, see note

Deaths and injuries are NOAA's totals for each tornado's whole path, which can run well beyond Chicago.

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

90 Jan: 0Feb: 0Mar: 1Apr: 2May: 4Jun: 0Jul: 9Aug: 2Sep: 3Oct: 0Nov: 0Dec: 0JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

July is the peak month, with 9 of 21 tornadoes.

By time of day

50 12 AM: 0: 0: 03 AM: 0: 0: 06 AM: 0: 0: 09 AM: 0: 0: 012 PM: 3: 2: 13 PM: 0: 2: 46 PM: 0: 0: 59 PM: 3: 1: 012 AM3 AM6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM

Most often around 8:00 PM. Times as recorded by NOAA, mostly Central Standard Time.

By year, 1950 to 2025

80 1950: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 1: 01960: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 01970: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 01980: 0: 0: 0: 2: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 01990: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02000: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 02010: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 1: 0: 1: 02020: 0: 0: 0: 1: 8: 019501960197019801990200020102020

The line is the five-year average. Tornadoes before about 1953 were under-reported, and better radar since the 1990s finds more weak ones.

By rating

EF0
10
EF1
9
EF2
1
EF4
1

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.

The record

Notable tornadoes

Deadliest

F4, April 21, 1967

33 deaths, 500 injuries Strongest

F4, April 21, 1967

15 mile path Longest path

15 miles, F4

April 21, 1967, whole path Widest

400 yards, EF1

July 15, 2024
Every tornado

All 21 tornadoes, newest first

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Jul 15, 2024EF01.4 mi150 yd00
Jul 15, 2024EF13.2 mi150 yd00
Jul 15, 2024EF13.1 mi400 yd00
Jul 15, 2024EF12.1 mi75 yd00
Jul 15, 2024EF01.2 mi175 yd00
Jul 14, 2024EF03.6 mi200 yd00
Jul 14, 2024EF08 mi300 yd00
Jul 14, 2024EF07.4 mi250 yd00
Jul 12, 2023EF19.06 mi150 yd01
Sep 3, 2018EF01.71 mi75 yd00
Aug 9, 2016EF00.01 mi10 yd00
May 26, 2015EF00.4 mi50 yd00
Sep 22, 2006F00.3 mi50 yd00
Sep 29, 1986F10.1 mi50 yd010
May 29, 1983F00.2 mi30 yd02
May 29, 1983F10.2 mi30 yd01
Apr 18, 1978F16.1 mi177 yd00
Apr 21, 1967F415 mi200 yd33500
Mar 4, 1961F27.9 mi100 yd1115
Aug 30, 1958F11 mi70 yd00
May 26, 1955F11.5 mi100 yd02
Nearby

Chicago and its county

Chicago spans 2 counties, each with its own record since 1950: Cook County (87 tornadoes) and DuPage County (46). A county's record counts every tornado inside its borders, while this page counts every path within 10 miles of the city, so the two overlap without matching.

Nearby cities

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Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025. City point and population: US Census Bureau, 2024. Each path is a straight line between NOAA's start and end points.