Bourbonnais, IL Tornado History — 139 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Bourbonnais, IL had?
Bourbonnais has had 139 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 7 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Bourbonnais?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Bourbonnais was an EF0 on December 28, 2025.
When is tornado season in Bourbonnais?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Bourbonnais, with 46 on record. April through June account for 90 of the 139 tornadoes on record near Bourbonnais.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Bourbonnais
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 78 total, averaging 3.9 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Bourbonnais since December 29, 2025
These are 7 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
NWS survey confirms an EF-2 tornado with peak winds near 115 mph... peak width of 300 yards... and path length of 25.8 miles. (LOT)
NWS survey confirms an EF-1 tornado with peak winds near 90 mph... peak width of 150 yards... and path length of 1.52 miles. (LOT)
Video and pictures from storm spotters confirm a brief EF-U. No known damage. (LOT)
Live video shows tornado on the ground between Dwight and Reddick. (LOT)
[Landspout] Corrects previous landspout report from 5 NE Donovan. Numerous pictures and videos of landspout tornado. First report was received at 5:23 PM and likely la (LOT)
*** 2 FATAL *** Three manufactured homes completed destroyed on 600 West Road north of 800 North Road. Two persons killed in one residence. Relayed by broadcast media. (LOT)
Video shows tornado on the ground near the Kankakee Airport. (LOT)
Within 25 miles of Bourbonnais. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Bourbonnais
2 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Bourbonnais and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on December 28, 2025 and the most recent on December 28, 2025. They are already counted in the Bourbonnais totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.
Video footage and photos taken by storm spotters and storm chasers show that a funnel cloud was intermittently in contact with the ground as it tracked across open farm (LOT)
An NWS damage survey confirmed an EF-0 tornado with estimated peak winds of 80 MPH... path length of 2.64 miles... and maximum width of 100 yards impacted rural areas w (LOT)
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 Bourbonnais
4 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Bourbonnais since 1950, across 4 events. 147 injuries have been reported across all events. 1978 was the deadliest year on record near Bourbonnais.
The deadliest single event was an F4 on April 17, 1963, which caused 1 fatality along a 57.3-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Bourbonnais
What the record shows near Bourbonnais
The 2010s were the busiest decade near Bourbonnais, with 37 of the 139 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 33 so far. The Bourbonnais record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Bourbonnais, 102 reached EF0 or EF1 and 27 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Bourbonnais is rated EF4, of which 1 is logged. A further 10 near Bourbonnais are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Bourbonnais has averaged 3.9 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 78 in total. 2014 was the busiest of them with 13, and 2 of those years passed with none at all.