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Tornado in Hancock County, Illinois
34 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 34 tornado events in Hancock County, Illinois, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 18 years.
April is the busiest month, with 15 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 11 events against 11 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 4.3 per 100 square miles compares with 6.6 statewide.
By rating: 10 at (E)F0, 15 at (E)F1, 3 at (E)F2, 3 at (E)F3, 1 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 2 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Illinois
| Measure | Hancock County | Illinois | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 34 | 3,647 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.3 | 6.6 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 19.5 | 2.9 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 236 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
1Apr
15May
5Jun
10Jul
0Aug
1Sep
1Oct
1Nov
0Dec
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 34 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 | EF1 | — | $10K | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2026 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 2026 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 2026 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2023 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2019 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Oct 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Apr 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Apr 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Apr 2008 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2007 | Tornado | EF0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2003 | Tornado | F2 | $400K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 1999 | Tornado | F3 | $15M | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 1997 | Tornado | F0 | $400K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 1997 | Tornado | F1 | $400K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 1997 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 1997 | Tornado | F0 | $400K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 1995 | Tornado | F4 | $10M | — | — | 7 | County |
| 16 Jun 1990 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 1990 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Mar 1990 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 1986 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 29 Apr 1984 | Tornado | F0 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1981 | Tornado | F1 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1981 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 1974 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 1974 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | 10 | County |
| 30 Sep 1973 | Tornado | F3 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 1973 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 1973 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 1973 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 1957 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 1955 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Hancock County had?
34 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 Hancock County?
17 Jun 2026 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Hancock County?
The tornado of 8 Apr 1999, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $15M.
How does Hancock County compare with Illinois for tornado?
4.3 events per 100 square miles against 6.6 statewide; the county holds 34 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.