Buffalo Grove, IL Tornado History — 110 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Buffalo Grove, IL had?
Buffalo Grove has had 110 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 4 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Buffalo Grove?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Buffalo Grove was an EF0 on March 14, 2025.
When is tornado season in Buffalo Grove?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Buffalo Grove, with 27 on record. April through June account for 47 of the 110 tornadoes on record near Buffalo Grove.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Buffalo Grove
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 46 total, averaging 2.3 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Buffalo Grove since December 29, 2025
These are 4 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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 a brief EF-0 tornado started just south of Wheaton College. Tornado was on the ground for 2 minutes or less. Peak width of 100 yards and winds of 75 (LOT)
Photo passed along of a tornado in Glen Ellyn... close to location of radar-indicated TDS. (LOT)
A NWS storm survey determined that a brief EF0 tornado produced tree damage and sporadic roofing damage across the far northern portion of the Saddlebrook Farms subdivi (LOT)
An NWS damage survey confirmed an EF-1 tornado with estimated peak winds of 100 MPH... path length of 3.0 miles... and maximum width of 400 yards impacted Bartlett... c (LOT)
Within 25 miles of Buffalo Grove. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. 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 Buffalo Grove
12 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Buffalo Grove since 1950, across 6 events. 477 injuries have been reported across all events. 1965 was the deadliest year on record near Buffalo Grove.
The deadliest single event was an F4 on April 11, 1965, which caused 6 fatalities along a 9.1-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Buffalo Grove
What the record shows near Buffalo Grove
The 2020s are the busiest decade on record so far near Buffalo Grove, with 37 of the 110 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles. The Buffalo Grove record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Buffalo Grove, 82 reached EF0 or EF1 and 28 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Buffalo Grove is rated EF4, of which 3 are logged.
Across the last 20 years Buffalo Grove has averaged 2.3 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 46 in total. 2023 was the busiest of them with 14, and 8 of those years passed with none at all.