Cook County, Illinois tornadoes

Checking live National Weather Service warnings for Cook County...

87confirmed tornadoes since NOAA records began in 1950 (the first here in 1954). Most recent: March 19, 2025, EF0. 2026 so far: 9 preliminary reports preliminary

Join the free alerts waiting list
Map

Every tornado path in the county

Tornado paths, 1950 to 2025
Use two fingers to move the map
(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.

Recent warnings

Recent warnings in Cook County

Loading warnings...

The record

At a glance

Total871950 to 2025
Per year1.1average since 1950
Peak monthJuly23 of 87
StrongestF4Apr 21, 1967
Deaths41whole paths, see note
Injuries916whole paths, see note

Deaths and injuries are NOAA's totals for each tornado's whole path, which can extend beyond Cook County.

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

230 Jan: 0Feb: 3Mar: 4Apr: 8May: 11Jun: 19Jul: 23Aug: 9Sep: 8Oct: 1Nov: 1Dec: 0JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

July is the peak month, with 23 of 87 tornadoes.

By time of day

190 12 AM: 0: 1: 03 AM: 0: 0: 36 AM: 0: 1: 19 AM: 0: 0: 112 PM: 4: 4: 113 PM: 3: 7: 196 PM: 4: 6: 119 PM: 7: 2: 212 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

170 1950: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 1: 2: 0: 1: 41960: 0: 1: 1: 0: 0: 4: 3: 3: 0: 01970: 1: 0: 3: 3: 2: 1: 2: 2: 1: 01980: 1: 0: 0: 2: 0: 1: 1: 0: 0: 01990: 0: 2: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02000: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 1: 1: 4: 02010: 1: 2: 0: 0: 0: 1: 1: 0: 1: 12020: 3: 1: 2: 6: 17: 119501960197019801990200020102020

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: 9 preliminary reports.

By rating

EF0
35
EF1
32
EF2
16
EF3
2
EF4
2

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

35.9 miles, F2

November 12, 1965, whole path Widest

1,760 yards, F4

June 13, 1976
Every tornado

All 87 tornadoes, newest first

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Mar 19, 2025EF00.29 mi50 yd00
Jul 15, 2024EF01.4 mi150 yd00
Jul 15, 2024EF13.2 mi150 yd00
Jul 15, 2024EF13.1 mi400 yd00
Jul 15, 2024EF00.4 mi125 yd00
Jul 15, 2024EF15.5 mi250 yd00
Jul 15, 2024EF00.4 mi85 yd00
Jul 15, 2024EF05.7 mi300 yd00
Jul 15, 2024EF12.1 mi75 yd00
Jul 15, 2024EF01.2 mi175 yd00
Jul 15, 2024EF04.1 mi250 yd00
Jul 15, 2024EF234.6 mi325 yd02
Jul 14, 2024EF03.6 mi200 yd00
Jul 14, 2024EF08 mi300 yd00
Jul 14, 2024EF07.4 mi250 yd00
Feb 27, 2024EF12.45 mi160 yd00
Feb 27, 2024EF12.58 mi110 yd00
Feb 27, 2024EF03.83 mi300 yd00
Jul 12, 2023EF03.42 mi300 yd00
Jul 12, 2023EF03.44 mi225 yd00
Jul 12, 2023EF01.06 mi80 yd00
Jul 12, 2023EF00.47 mi80 yd00
Jul 12, 2023EF110.94 mi440 yd00
Jul 12, 2023EF19.06 mi150 yd01
Jun 13, 2022EF02.2 mi25 yd00
This year

2026 preliminary reports not yet confirmed

Report dateLocationRating
Aug 11, 20261 ESE HomewoodNot yet rated
Aug 11, 20263 SE Homer GlenNot yet rated
Jul 27, 20261 ENE Hazel CrestNot yet rated
Jul 27, 20262 E GlenwoodNot yet rated
Jul 27, 20261 ENE Hazel CrestNot yet rated
Jul 27, 20261 N Orland ParkNot yet rated
Jul 27, 20263 NW Orland ParkNot yet rated
Jun 10, 20261 E Palos HeightsNot yet rated
Jun 11, 20261 S Willow SpringsNot yet rated

Preliminary reports from the Storm Prediction Center. One tornado can be reported more than once, and NOAA confirms the final record months later.

Cities

Cities in Cook County

Each city page counts every tornado path within 10 miles of the city, including paths just over the county line.

Nearby

Nearby counties

Coming soon

Free tornado alerts for Cook County

We are building free email alerts for tornado warnings. Join the waiting list and we will email you once when they are ready. Until then, please rely on the National Weather Service and your phone's emergency alerts.

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025, and SPC preliminary reports for 2026. Page built October 13, 2026.