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Tornado in Union County, Illinois
24 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 24 tornado events in Union County, Illinois, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 18 years.
April is the busiest month, with 6 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 12 events against 4 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.7% of the 3,647 tornado events recorded in Illinois; its 5.8 per 100 square miles compares with 6.6 statewide.
NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 8 at (E)F0, 8 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 | Union County | Illinois | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 24 | 3,647 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 5.8 | 6.6 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 14.2 | 2.9 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 1 | 236 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
4Feb
2Mar
2Apr
6May
6Jun
1Jul
0Aug
1Sep
0Oct
1Nov
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 24 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 May 2025 | Tornado | EF1 | $80K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | $28K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jan 2020 | Tornado | EF1 | $80K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2018 | Tornado | EF1 | $70K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2018 | Tornado | EF0 | $7K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2014 | Tornado | EF0 | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2014 | Tornado | EF0 | $7K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2014 | Tornado | EF0 | $7K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Feb 2012 | Tornado | EF2 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jan 2008 | Tornado | EF1 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 2007 | Tornado | EF0 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Oct 2004 | Tornado | F1 | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 2002 | Tornado | F3 | $5.0M | — | 1 | 8 | County |
| 21 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F2 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F0 | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Feb 1976 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 2 Jun 1973 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 1972 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | 4 | County |
| 14 Apr 1972 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 1969 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 1957 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Nov 1955 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Mar 1955 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Union County had?
24 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 Union County?
20 May 2025 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Union County?
The tornado of 28 Apr 2002, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $5.0M; 1 death recorded.
How does Union County compare with Illinois for tornado?
5.8 events per 100 square miles against 6.6 statewide; the county holds 24 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.