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Tornado in Effingham County, Illinois
30 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 30 tornado events in Effingham County, Illinois, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 21 years.
April is the busiest month, with 10 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 13 events against 6 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.8% of the 3,647 tornado events recorded in Illinois; its 6.3 per 100 square miles compares with 6.6 statewide.
NCEI attributes 2 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 9 at (E)F0, 10 at (E)F1, 5 at (E)F2, 2 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 4 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Illinois
| Measure | Effingham County | Illinois | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 30 | 3,647 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 6.3 | 6.6 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 8.7 | 2.9 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 2 | 236 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
4Mar
2Apr
10May
7Jun
3Jul
1Aug
1Sep
1Oct
0Nov
1Dec
0
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 30 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 | EF3 | — | — | — | 2 | County |
| 19 Feb 2026 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Feb 2026 | Tornado | EF0 | $170K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Feb 2026 | Tornado | EF0 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2025 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2025 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2025 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 2021 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 2021 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2018 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 2016 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Feb 2014 | Tornado | EF1 | $80K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Nov 2013 | Tornado | EF1 | $400K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 2006 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 1998 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1994 | Tornado | F2 | $500K | — | — | 3 | County |
| 16 May 1990 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 1989 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 1984 | Tornado | F0 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Apr 1984 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 1983 | Tornado | F0 | $250K | — | 2 | — | County |
| 10 Aug 1974 | Tornado | F0 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1973 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1967 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Sep 1961 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Mar 1961 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | 3 | County |
| 22 Jun 1960 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 1960 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Mar 1959 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | 2 | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Effingham County had?
30 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 Effingham County?
17 Jun 2026 (Tornado, EF3). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Effingham County?
The tornado of 26 Apr 1994, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $500K.
How does Effingham County compare with Illinois for tornado?
6.3 events per 100 square miles against 6.6 statewide; the county holds 30 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.