Bloomington, IL Tornado History — 182 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Bloomington, IL had?
Bloomington has had 182 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 7 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Bloomington?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Bloomington was an EF1 on June 18, 2025.
When is tornado season in Bloomington?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Bloomington, with 50 on record. April through June account for 126 of the 182 tornadoes on record near Bloomington.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Bloomington
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 38 total, averaging 1.9 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Bloomington since December 29, 2025
These are 9 preliminary reports, not confirmed tornadoes. They have not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and are not counted in the confirmed totals above.
Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete. Ratings are omitted until a survey assigns one.
Confirmed records above are complete through December 29, 2025. NOAA publishes the confirmed archive annually, so tornadoes after that date appear here first and move into the totals above once finalized.
(ILX)
Small machine shed collapsed with its debris strewn toward the ENE near the intersection of Birkbeck Rd and Northfork Rd. (ILX)
Corrects time of previous tornado report from 7 SSW Fairbury. An NWS damage survey determined an EF-1 tornado started in McLean County and crossed into Livingston Count (LOT)
EF0... peak wind speed 85 mph... path length 3.2 miles. Tracked ENE across western and northern portions of Saybrook. A narrow... one block damage path consisted of sev (ILX)
EF1... peak wind speed 110 mph... path length 4.0 miles. This tornado touched down in the Bloomington Country Club Golf Course and did tree damage. As it moved northeas (ILX)
EF2... max wind speed 115 mph... path length 2 mi. The tornado touched down along Runyon Rd about a half mile west of the Tazewell-McLean County line. It cause extensiv (ILX)
(ILX)
An NWS damage survey determined an EF-1 tornado started in McLean County and crossed into Livingston County. Peak winds were estimated near 90 mph. (LOT)
EF1... peak wind speed 100 mph... path length 33.8 miles. The tornado touched down about 2.5 miles southeast of Funks Grove where it produced some tree damage along E 4 (ILX)
Within 25 miles of Bloomington. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Bloomington
3 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Bloomington and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on April 20, 2025 and the most recent on June 18, 2025. They are already counted in the Bloomington totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.
Rain-wrapped tornado with tree debris in the air. No structural damage. (ILX)
EF-U tornado. A video shows a brief touchdown for about 45 seconds. No damage was observed or reported. (ILX)
The tornado affected mainly rural areas of Tazewell County where it produced EF-1 damage to trees... outbuildings and power poles... with peak winds of 90 mph. It reach (ILX)
Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
Tornadoes by Decade
Tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita Rating
F0–F5 ratings (pre-2007) are grouped with their EF equivalents. The Enhanced Fujita scale replaced the original Fujita scale in February 2007.
Tornadoes by Month
Casualties on Record Near Bloomington
5 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Bloomington since 1950, across 2 events. 111 injuries have been reported across all events. 1968 was the deadliest year on record near Bloomington.
The deadliest single event was an F1 on May 15, 1968, which caused 4 fatalities along a 25.4-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Bloomington
What the record shows near Bloomington
The 2000s were the busiest decade near Bloomington, with 47 of the 182 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 18 so far. The Bloomington record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Bloomington, 145 reached EF0 or EF1 and 31 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Bloomington is rated EF4, of which 2 are logged. A further 6 near Bloomington are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Bloomington has averaged 1.9 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 38 in total. 2024 was the busiest of them with 6, and 7 of those years passed with none at all.