Published on June 24, 2026 6:17 am
Last Updated on June 24, 2026 6:17 am
BY JIM TAYLOR FarmWeekNow.com
Tornado frequency is picking up again in Illinois.
A 12-day stretch has battered numerous parts of the state with dangerous weather flaring up June 10-11, June 17 and June 21.
“Pretty significant weather that stretched down between Shelbyville down to Mount Vernon,” said Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford, reacting to the June 21 storm system. “Just another day in what’s been a remarkably severe weather year.”
The National Weather Service Paducah, KY, office released initial information on Sunday’s storm system through its social media channels Monday.
“Jefferson County, IL, have found a tornado with a preliminary assessment of an EF-3 rating, tracking from north-central Jefferson County eastward into far western Wayne County, IL. The estimated peak winds were 140 mph, and the track is approximately 14 miles long,” the post read.
As of June 22, the Storm Prediction Center had confirmed a record 196 tornadoes in Illinois so far this year. That number will likely grow as the rest of June into July is expected to remain active.
“The previous record in Illinois was in 2024 with 142,” Ford said. “With outlooks showing wetter conditions in July and a pretty active storm track for the rest of this month, I just don’t see any signs that we’re going to completely shut off from severe weather.”
Illinois is on a four-year streak of surpassing 100 tornadoes each year.
Over the last 25 years, Ford said the state has averaged between 50 and 60 tornadoes per year.
Before this four-year stretch of over 100 tornadoes per year, Illinois recorded only 34 in 2022.
