States › Illinois › Washington County › Tornado
Tornado in Washington 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.
Washington County, Illinois, has 31 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 19 different years.
March is the busiest month, with 6 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 10 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 5.5 per 100 square miles compares with 6.6 statewide.
NCEI attributes 2 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 8 at (E)F0, 16 at (E)F1, 5 at (E)F2, 0 at (E)F3, 1 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 1 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Illinois
| Measure | Washington County | Illinois | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 31 | 3,647 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 5.5 | 6.6 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 22.7 | 2.9 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 2 | 236 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | March | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
3Mar
6Apr
5May
6Jun
3Jul
1Aug
0Sep
3Oct
2Nov
2Dec
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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Apr 2023 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Oct 2021 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Nov 2013 | Tornado | EF4 | — | — | 2 | 2 | County |
| 17 Nov 2013 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 2012 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 28 Feb 2011 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Feb 2011 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Mar 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Mar 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Mar 2009 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Sep 2006 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2006 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2004 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2004 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2004 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2004 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2003 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 1998 | Tornado | F1 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 1998 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 1995 | Tornado | F1 | $130K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Mar 1976 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1973 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Sep 1961 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 1961 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 1960 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 1959 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Feb 1959 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Apr 1956 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Oct 1955 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 1953 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Washington 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 Washington County?
15 Apr 2023 (Tornado, EF unrated). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Washington County?
The tornado of 14 Mar 1953, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $250K.
How does Washington County compare with Illinois for tornado?
5.5 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.