Elgin, Illinois tornadoes

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22confirmed tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elgin since NOAA records began in 1950. Most recent: March 14, 2025, 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.

Recent warnings

Recent warnings near Elgin

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The record

At a glance

Total22within 10 miles, 1950 to 2025
Per year0.3average since 1950
Peak monthJuly6 of 22
StrongestF4Apr 21, 1967
Deaths1whole paths, see note
Injuries106whole paths, see note

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

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

60 Jan: 0Feb: 3Mar: 2Apr: 3May: 0Jun: 2Jul: 6Aug: 6Sep: 0Oct: 0Nov: 0Dec: 0JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

July is the peak month, with 6 of 22 tornadoes.

By time of day

90 12 AM: 0: 0: 03 AM: 0: 0: 06 AM: 0: 0: 09 AM: 0: 0: 012 PM: 0: 0: 23 PM: 0: 1: 96 PM: 3: 4: 19 PM: 1: 0: 112 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

50 1950: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 2: 0: 0: 01960: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 2: 0: 01970: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 1: 01980: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01990: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02000: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 12010: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02020: 0: 1: 1: 5: 4: 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.

By rating

EF0
12
EF1
6
EF2
3
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

1 deaths, 100 injuries Strongest

F4, April 21, 1967

8.8 mile path Longest path

10.94 miles, EF1

July 12, 2023, whole path Widest

440 yards, EF1

July 12, 2023
Every tornado

All 22 tornadoes, newest first

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Mar 14, 2025EF00.78 mi50 yd00
Jul 14, 2024EF00.8 mi150 yd00
Feb 27, 2024EF12.45 mi160 yd00
Feb 27, 2024EF03.83 mi300 yd00
Feb 27, 2024EF07.89 mi125 yd00
Jul 12, 2023EF00.47 mi80 yd00
Jul 12, 2023EF02.6 mi100 yd00
Jul 12, 2023EF110.94 mi440 yd00
Jul 12, 2023EF16.42 mi200 yd00
Mar 31, 2023EF01.66 mi150 yd00
Jun 13, 2022EF00.2 mi30 yd00
Aug 9, 2021EF13.8 mi100 yd00
Aug 19, 2009EF00.75 mi30 yd00
Aug 24, 2004F00.1 mi10 yd00
Jul 2, 1993F00.2 mi20 yd00
Aug 15, 1978F22 mi100 yd00
Jun 9, 1974F00.1 mi10 yd00
Apr 21, 1967F20.3 mi10 yd00
Apr 21, 1967F48.8 mi150 yd1100
Aug 23, 1956F10.1 mi40 yd03
Aug 23, 1956F20.1 mi40 yd00
Apr 28, 1955F110.4 mi10 yd03
Nearby

Elgin and its county

Elgin spans 2 counties, each with its own record since 1950: Kane County (46 tornadoes) and Cook County (87). 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.