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Tornado in Coles County, Illinois
40 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.
Coles County, Illinois, has 40 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 22 different years.
April is the busiest month, with 10 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 11 events against 14 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.1% of the 3,647 tornado events recorded in Illinois; its 7.9 per 100 square miles compares with 6.6 statewide.
By rating: 14 at (E)F0, 14 at (E)F1, 7 at (E)F2, 2 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 3 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Illinois
| Measure | Coles County | Illinois | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 40 | 3,647 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 7.9 | 6.6 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 8.6 | 2.9 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 236 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
5Apr
10May
7Jun
5Jul
2Aug
6Sep
1Oct
0Nov
1Dec
3
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 40 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Jun 2026 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 20 May 2025 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2025 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Mar 2025 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Dec 2021 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Dec 2021 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 2021 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2013 | Tornado | EF0 | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2008 | Tornado | EF1 | $275K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2006 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 2006 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 2006 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Sep 2003 | Tornado | F1 | $10M | — | — | 1 | County |
| 8 Apr 1999 | Tornado | F0 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 1998 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Mar 1998 | Tornado | F2 | $3.0M | — | — | 3 | County |
| 25 May 1997 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 1996 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 1996 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1994 | Tornado | F1 | $5.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 1992 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 1989 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 1988 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1986 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 1982 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Aug 1974 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Aug 1974 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 1974 | Tornado | F2 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 1974 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 1974 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 1974 | Tornado | F3 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1974 | Tornado | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 1974 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Mar 1974 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 9 Jun 1972 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 1971 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | 24 | County |
| 6 May 1960 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 1958 | Tornado | F3 | $25K | — | — | 3 | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Coles County had?
40 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 Coles County?
17 Jun 2026 (Tornado, EF2). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Coles County?
The tornado of 26 Sep 2003, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $10M.
How does Coles County compare with Illinois for tornado?
7.9 events per 100 square miles against 6.6 statewide; the county holds 40 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.