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Tornado in Adams County, Illinois
36 tornadoes events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Tornado.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
Adams County, Illinois, has 36 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 23 different years.
April is the busiest month, with 9 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 11 events against 16 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1% of the 3,647 tornado events recorded in Illinois; its 4.2 per 100 square miles compares with 6.6 statewide.
By rating: 20 at (E)F0, 11 at (E)F1, 5 at (E)F2, 0 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Illinois
| Measure | Adams County | Illinois | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 36 | 3,647 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.2 | 6.6 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 5.5 | 2.9 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 236 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
0Apr
9May
7Jun
7Jul
5Aug
1Sep
3Oct
2Nov
0Dec
2
Magnitude distribution
Enhanced Fujita scale wind estimates
- EF0/F0
- 65–85 mph (EF0)
- EF1/F1
- 86–110 mph (EF1)
- EF2/F2
- 111–135 mph (EF2)
- EF3/F3
- 136–165 mph (EF3)
- EF4/F4
- 166–200 mph (EF4)
- EF5/F5
- over 200 mph (EF5)
- Unrated
- no rating recorded
Tornado rating as recorded (Fujita scale before February 2007, Enhanced Fujita after).
Recorded events
All 36 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Apr 2026 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2025 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 2025 | Tornado | EF0 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 2025 | Tornado | EF0 | $120K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Oct 2024 | Tornado | EF0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2023 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Dec 2008 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Dec 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Apr 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Oct 2007 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Sep 2005 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2005 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2003 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | 4 | County |
| 10 May 2003 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 1998 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 30 Apr 1997 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 1997 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 1997 | Tornado | F0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 1997 | Tornado | F0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 1996 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 1992 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 1992 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 1992 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 1992 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 1991 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 1987 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1981 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Sep 1977 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 3 | County |
| 30 May 1974 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | 12 | County |
| 16 Jun 1973 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Sep 1970 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 1961 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 1960 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 1955 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 1955 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Adams County had?
36 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of tornadoes became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded tornado event in Adams County?
15 Apr 2026 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Adams County?
The tornado of 30 May 1974, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M.
How does Adams County compare with Illinois for tornado?
4.2 events per 100 square miles against 6.6 statewide; the county holds 36 of the state's 3,647 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Tornado hub and the county page.