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Tornado in Clinton County, Illinois
31 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.
NCEI records 31 tornado events in Clinton County, Illinois, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 22 years.
April is the busiest month, with 7 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 14 events against 9 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.9% of the 3,647 tornado events recorded in Illinois; its 6.5 per 100 square miles compares with 6.6 statewide.
NCEI attributes 2 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 11 at (E)F0, 12 at (E)F1, 4 at (E)F2, 2 at (E)F3, 1 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 1 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Illinois
| Measure | Clinton County | Illinois | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 31 | 3,647 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 6.5 | 6.6 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 8.4 | 2.9 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 2 | 236 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
1Mar
4Apr
7May
7Jun
2Jul
3Aug
0Sep
1Oct
1Nov
3Dec
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 31 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Apr 2026 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 2026 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Mar 2026 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Tornado | EF2 | $700K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2024 | Tornado | EF0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | $118K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2022 | Tornado | EF0 | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2022 | Tornado | EF1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2020 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Nov 2013 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Nov 2013 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 2012 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Mar 2012 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2006 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2006 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2005 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2004 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2003 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Apr 2003 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2000 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Nov 1990 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Dec 1982 | Tornado | F3 | $25M | — | 2 | — | County |
| 22 Oct 1979 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Apr 1975 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 1968 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Dec 1967 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Mar 1964 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 1958 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Feb 1956 | Tornado | F4 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Clinton County had?
31 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 Clinton County?
27 Apr 2026 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Clinton County?
The tornado of 2 Dec 1982, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $25M; 2 deaths recorded.
How does Clinton County compare with Illinois for tornado?
6.5 events per 100 square miles against 6.6 statewide; the county holds 31 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.