Illinois averages about 32 tornadoes per year between March and May, with the most tornadoes — an average of 16 per year — in May. Statewide, nearly 80 percent of all tornadoes occur between April 1 and June 30.
Are tornadoes normal in Illinois?
Tornadoes have been common across central Illinois over the years, with lesser totals reported across southeast portions of the state. The map below shows the number of tornadoes reported across the Lincoln NWS’s County Warning Area between 1950 and 2021.
Is Illinois part of Tornado Alley?
Although the official boundaries of Tornado Alley are not clearly defined, its core extends from northern Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa along with South Dakota. Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and western Ohio are sometimes included in Tornado Alley.
When was the last time Illinois had a tornado?
The most recent significant tornadoes occurred on June 7, 2008 over Will and Cook Counties. The only F5 tornado to ever strike the Chicago area was on August 28 1990.
A Study of the Chicago Areas Significant Tornadoes.
| County | Significant Tornadoes (per 100 sq. miles) | Violent Tornadoes (total) |
|---|---|---|
| DuPage | 3.29 | 1 |
| Will | 2.51 | 3 |
| Kane | 2.31 | 1 |
| Lake IL | 2.23 | 3 |
Where do most tornadoes happen in Illinois?
In recent Illinois history, Cook County has the highest number of confirmed tornados at 38 tornados.
How many tornadoes has Illinois had in 2021?
81
Recent Tornado Data
| Year | Tornado Reports | Injuries |
|---|---|---|
| 2021* | 81 | 13 |
| 2020 | 74 | 2 |
| 2019 | 51 | 1 |
| 2018 | 60 | 22 |
Which state has the most tornadoes?
Colorado
Of the states around the Rocky Mountains, Colorado reports by far the greatest numbers of tornadoes.
How frequent are tornadoes in Illinois?
In a typical year, Illinois averages 50 tornadoes.
Has a tornado ever hit downtown Chicago?
A tornado has hit in downtown Chicago, but it was a long time ago, well before the high-rise era. On May 6, 1876, an F-3 tornado cut a 4-mile-long, 100-yard-wide path through the heart of the city, destroying many buildings. The twister killed two, injured 35, and caused $250,000 of damage.
What was the worst tornado in Illinois?
Tri-State tornado
In fact, Illinois has experienced one of the worst tornadoes in U.S. history. The infamous Tri-State tornado occurred on March 18, 1925, passing through southern Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, leaving 695 dead and 2000 injured.
Has there been an F5 tornado in Illinois?
28, 1990, an F5 tornado touched down in Plainfield, Ill. It’s the only F5/EF5 tornado to hit the Chicago area and the only one of that magnitude to touch down in the United States in August. The twister killed 29 people and injured 353. Shortly after noon, a supercell formed in the south of Wisconsin.
Where is Tornado Alley?
Tornado Alley typically refers to the geographic location believed to be where tornadoes most frequently occur, the article said. This area includes West and North Texas, as well as Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and parts of Colorado and New Mexico.
When was the last time a tornado hit Chicago?
It was less than a year ago on August 10, 2020 when an EF-1 tornado, packing top winds of 110 mph, touched down in the Rogers Park neighborhood on Chicago’s North Side.
Can a hurricane reach Illinois?
On occasion, the remnants of a hurricane or tropical storm will track across Illinois. The image below, courtesy of NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management hurricane mapping system, shows the observed tracks that have occurred within the state between 1850 and 2020.
Does Southern Illinois get tornadoes?
Listed below are confirmed killer tornadoes listed by date in Southern Illinois, United States. Modern record keeping in the region began in the 1880s, although there were undoubtedly many other deaths that have been lost to history.
Does Northern Illinois get tornadoes?
3 Tornadoes Reportedly Touched Down in Northern Illinois this Weekend. Here’s Where – NBC Chicago.
What state is Tornado Alley 2021?
Tornado alley is a cluster of states in the midwestern US where tornadoes are most likely to occur. Tornado alley is typically identified as including parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Indiana, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, and Ohio.
How many died in Illinois tornado?
six people
In Illinois, a tornado caused the walls and roof of an Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville to collapse, killing six people. At least four people in Tennessee were killed, as well as two in Arkansas and two in Missouri.
When was the last tornado in 2021?
Tornado outbreak of December 10–11, 2021
| Map of tornado warnings and confirmed tornadoes from the outbreak | |
|---|---|
| Lowest pressure | 974 mbar (28.8 inHg) |
| Tornadoes confirmed | 71 |
| Max. rating1 | EF4 tornado |
| Duration of tornado outbreak2 | 24 hours, 11 minutes |
What state has never had a tornado?
Alaska (least likely)
Anyone living in or visiting Alaska can rest assured that it is the least likely of all America’s states to experience a tornado. They are not unheard of here, however. Four have been recorded since 1950 and the last hit in August 2005.
What states don’t have tornadoes?
10 States with the Fewest Tornadoes
| STATE | ANNUAL TORNADOES | POPULATION |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | 0 | 1.057 million |
| Alaska | 0 | 737,438 |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 6.902 million |
| New Jersey | 2 | 8.909 million |
