Bradley, IL Tornado History — 142 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Bradley, IL had?
Bradley has had 142 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 8 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Bradley?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Bradley was an EF0 on December 28, 2025.
When is tornado season in Bradley?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Bradley, with 50 on record. Spring through early summer (April–June) generally sees the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Bradley
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 80 total, averaging 4.0 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Bradley 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
Within 25 miles of Bradley. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
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 Bradley
4 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Bradley since 1950, across 4 events. 152 injuries have been reported across all events. 1978 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was a F4 on April 17, 1963, which caused 1 fatality along a 57.3-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Bradley
About Tornadoes in Bradley
This overview was written April 23, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.
Bradley, Illinois, sits in a region of the Midwest where tornado activity is well-documented. According to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, 135 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Bradley since 1950, with a notable increase in frequency over recent decades. The 1950s and 1960s saw relatively few events—just 4 and 6 tornadoes respectively—while the 2010s recorded 38 tornadoes and the 2020s have already tallied 31 through late 2025. This upward trend in reported events likely reflects improvements in detection technology and storm survey methods rather than a fundamental change in atmospheric patterns.
The majority of tornadoes near Bradley have been on the weaker end of the Enhanced Fujita scale, which rates tornado intensity based on damage indicators. Of the 135 recorded events, 53 were rated EF0 and 49 were rated EF1, meaning they caused relatively minor damage. However, the area has experienced stronger tornadoes as well: 17 were rated EF2, 5 reached EF3 intensity, and one tornado achieved EF4 status. An additional 10 tornadoes remain unrated in historical records. June is the peak month for tornado activity in the Bradley area, accounting for 33 of the recorded events, consistent with the national pattern of spring and early summer tornado season when warm, moist air masses collide with cooler, drier air.
The deadliest tornado on record near Bradley was an F4 that struck on April 17, 1963, claiming one life and causing $2,750,000 in property damage along a 57.3-mile path. This same tornado holds the record as the longest-tracked event in the area. The costliest tornado occurred on April 3, 1982, when an F3 tornado caused $27,500,000 in damage across a 12-mile path with a maximum width of 750 yards, though fortunately no fatalities were reported. The widest tornado near Bradley was an F1 on September 22, 1961, which reached 800 yards in width.
Tornado activity near Bradley has continued into the present day. The most recent tornado on record was an EF0 that touched down on December 28, 2025, traveling 2.6 miles with a maximum width of 100 yards and causing no injuries or property damage.