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Tornado in White County, Illinois
25 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 25 tornado events in White County, Illinois, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 19 years.
April is the busiest month, with 6 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 13 events against 7 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 5.1 per 100 square miles compares with 6.6 statewide.
NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 8 at (E)F0, 11 at (E)F1, 5 at (E)F2, 1 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Illinois
| Measure | White County | Illinois | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 25 | 3,647 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 5.1 | 6.6 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 18.1 | 2.9 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 1 | 236 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
3Feb
2Mar
2Apr
6May
5Jun
4Jul
0Aug
0Sep
0Oct
1Nov
1Dec
1
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 25 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 May 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Mar 2022 | Tornado | EF1 | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2018 | Tornado | EF0 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2018 | Tornado | EF1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Feb 2017 | Tornado | EF3 | $2.0M | — | 1 | 1 | County |
| 23 Dec 2015 | Tornado | EF1 | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2015 | Tornado | EF0 | $5K | $50K | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2014 | Tornado | EF1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Mar 2012 | Tornado | EF0 | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jan 2012 | Tornado | EF2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF2 | $2.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $300K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2006 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 2005 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Oct 2001 | Tornado | F0 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 1996 | Tornado | F1 | $1.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 1990 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jan 1989 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | 6 | County |
| 7 Jan 1989 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 1983 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 1981 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 1976 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 1974 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Feb 1965 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has White County had?
25 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 White County?
26 May 2024 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in White County?
The tornado of 7 Jan 1989, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M.
How does White County compare with Illinois for tornado?
5.1 events per 100 square miles against 6.6 statewide; the county holds 25 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.