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Tornado in Jefferson 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.
Jefferson County, Illinois, has 31 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 24 different years.
April is the busiest month, with 7 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 14 events against 7 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 5.4 per 100 square miles compares with 6.6 statewide.
NCEI attributes 3 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 9 at (E)F0, 12 at (E)F1, 8 at (E)F2, 1 at (E)F3, 1 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Illinois
| Measure | Jefferson County | Illinois | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 31 | 3,647 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 5.4 | 6.6 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 8.4 | 2.9 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 3 | 236 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
1Mar
6Apr
7May
6Jun
2Jul
0Aug
2Sep
0Oct
2Nov
1Dec
4
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Mar 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | $700K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Mar 2020 | Tornado | EF0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Oct 2014 | Tornado | EF1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Oct 2014 | Tornado | EF1 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Nov 2013 | Tornado | EF1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Mar 2012 | Tornado | EF2 | $150K | — | 1 | 2 | County |
| 25 May 2011 | Tornado | EF2 | $4.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $70K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $90K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2010 | Tornado | EF0 | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Mar 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | $12K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Mar 2009 | Tornado | EF1 | $60K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Apr 2005 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2004 | Tornado | F1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Apr 2002 | Tornado | F1 | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2001 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 1998 | Tornado | F2 | $400K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 19 Apr 1996 | Tornado | F3 | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 1995 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 1983 | Tornado | F1 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Mar 1982 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | 1 | 3 | County |
| 7 May 1973 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | 3 | County |
| 20 Apr 1966 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Feb 1960 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 9 May 1959 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Dec 1957 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Dec 1957 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 18 Dec 1957 | Tornado | F4 | $2.5M | — | 1 | 45 | County |
| 18 Dec 1957 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Jefferson 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 Jefferson County?
14 Mar 2024 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Jefferson County?
The tornado of 25 May 2011, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $4.0M.
How does Jefferson County compare with Illinois for tornado?
5.4 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.