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Tornado in Mason County, Illinois
42 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.
Mason County, Illinois, has 42 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 28 different years.
April is the busiest month, with 9 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 13 events against 14 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.2% of the 3,647 tornado events recorded in Illinois; its 7.8 per 100 square miles compares with 6.6 statewide.
NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 16 at (E)F0, 18 at (E)F1, 6 at (E)F2, 2 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Illinois
| Measure | Mason County | Illinois | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 42 | 3,647 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 7.8 | 6.6 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 32.6 | 2.9 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 1 | 236 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
2Feb
0Mar
6Apr
9May
5Jun
5Jul
2Aug
3Sep
2Oct
0Nov
4Dec
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 42 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Mar 2026 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2026 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Sep 2025 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2025 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 2022 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 2022 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Mar 2021 | Tornado | EF0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Dec 2018 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Dec 2018 | Tornado | EF1 | $65K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Mar 2017 | Tornado | EF1 | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Sep 2015 | Tornado | EF0 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $300K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 8 Jul 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2003 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2003 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2003 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 10 May 2003 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2001 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 1999 | Tornado | F1 | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 1998 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 1998 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 1998 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 1998 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 1996 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 19 Apr 1996 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Nov 1990 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 1987 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Nov 1985 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 1981 | Tornado | F1 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Nov 1975 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1974 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1974 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Dec 1973 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | 2 | County |
| 12 Jul 1972 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1968 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | — | 25 | County |
| 24 Jan 1967 | Tornado | F3 | $25K | — | 1 | 3 | County |
| 24 Jan 1967 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 2 Apr 1964 | Tornado | F1 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 1961 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Dec 1957 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 14 Mar 1957 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Nov 1951 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Mason County had?
42 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 Mason County?
10 Mar 2026 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Mason County?
The tornado of 15 May 1968, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M.
How does Mason County compare with Illinois for tornado?
7.8 events per 100 square miles against 6.6 statewide; the county holds 42 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.