Rockford, Illinois tornadoes

Checking live National Weather Service warnings for Rockford...

20confirmed tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rockford since NOAA records began in 1950. Most recent: June 3, 2025, EF0.

Join the free alerts waiting list
Map

Every tornado path within 10 miles

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 near Rockford

Loading warnings...

The record

At a glance

Total20within 10 miles, 1950 to 2025
Per year0.3average since 1950
Peak monthMarch3 of 20
StrongestF4Apr 21, 1967
Deaths25whole paths, see note
Injuries496whole paths, see note

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

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

30 Jan: 0Feb: 0Mar: 3Apr: 3May: 3Jun: 3Jul: 3Aug: 3Sep: 1Oct: 0Nov: 1Dec: 0JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

March is the peak month, with 3 of 20 tornadoes.

By time of day

50 12 AM: 0: 0: 03 AM: 0: 0: 06 AM: 0: 0: 09 AM: 0: 0: 012 PM: 0: 3: 03 PM: 2: 1: 56 PM: 5: 3: 19 PM: 0: 0: 012 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

40 1950: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 01960: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 2: 0: 01970: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01980: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 01990: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02000: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02010: 1: 3: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 1: 0: 02020: 2: 0: 0: 4: 2: 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
8
EF1
9
EF2
2
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

24 deaths, 450 injuries Strongest

F4, April 21, 1967

25.5 mile path Longest path

29.14 miles, EF1

May 22, 2011, whole path Widest

1,200 yards, F4

April 21, 1967
Every tornado

All 20 tornadoes, newest first

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Jun 3, 2025EF00.31 mi75 yd00
Jul 15, 2024EF00.2 mi25 yd00
Jul 15, 2024EF01.2 mi100 yd00
Jul 12, 2023EF02.46 mi175 yd00
Mar 31, 2023EF18.63 mi300 yd00
Mar 31, 2023EF15.79 mi300 yd00
Mar 31, 2023EF127.51 mi600 yd140
Aug 10, 2020EF19.18 mi300 yd00
Aug 10, 2020EF01.58 mi50 yd00
Jun 28, 2017EF15.9 mi200 yd00
Apr 9, 2015EF02.84 mi25 yd00
May 22, 2011EF12.73 mi50 yd00
May 22, 2011EF10.5 mi100 yd00
May 22, 2011EF129.14 mi200 yd00
Nov 22, 2010EF218.1 mi200 yd06
Apr 29, 1991F00.1 mi100 yd00
Sep 28, 1986F00.2 mi10 yd00
Jun 11, 1967F10.1 mi10 yd00
Apr 21, 1967F425.5 mi1,200 yd24450
Aug 30, 1958F20.1 mi10 yd00
Nearby

Rockford and its county

Rockford spans 2 counties, each with its own record since 1950: Winnebago County (24 tornadoes) and Ogle County (33). 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

Coming soon

Free tornado alerts for Rockford

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. City point and population: US Census Bureau, 2024. Each path is a straight line between NOAA's start and end points.