Carbondale, IL Tornado History — 112 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Carbondale, IL had?
Carbondale has had 112 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 12 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Carbondale?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Carbondale was an EF1 on May 20, 2025.
When is tornado season in Carbondale?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Carbondale, with 28 on record. April through June account for 65 of the 112 tornadoes on record near Carbondale.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Carbondale
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 64 total, averaging 3.2 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Carbondale since December 29, 2025
These are 2 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
EF0... 80 mph A brief tornado moved across Reed Station road northeast of Carbondale. A wooden fence was damaged and strewn upstream with the storm. Several tree trunks (PAH)
EF1: 97 mph A brief tornado produced damage in Grand Tower. Minor structural damage to roofs and awnings was noted. A few trees were uprooted with trunks/branches snapp (PAH)
Within 25 miles of Carbondale. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Carbondale
7 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Carbondale and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on April 2, 2025 and the most recent on May 19, 2025. They are already counted in the Carbondale totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.
Tornado debris signature noted on radar here. (PAH)
reported tornado on the ground. (PAH)
*** 7 INJ *** A violent EF-4 tornado with peak winds of 190 mph impacted southern Williamson County... IL... during the early evening hours of Friday... May 16... 2025. (PAH)
tornado reported on the ground. (PAH)
A brief EF-1 tornado began just east of Creal Springs... IL... along Highway 166 moving east-northeast. Damage was mainly uprooted and snapped trees and downed limbs. H (PAH)
An EF-2 tornado began just north of Buncombe... IL. Traveling northeast... the tornado caused severe and extensive damage to hundreds of pine trees along its path. One (PAH)
A brief EF-0 tornado caused damage to tree limbs and uprooted a couple trees along US Highway 51 north of Anna. (PAH)
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 Carbondale
24 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Carbondale since 1950, across 5 events. 486 injuries have been reported across all events. 1957 was the deadliest year on record near Carbondale.
The deadliest single event was an F4 on December 18, 1957, which caused 11 fatalities along a 28.3-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Carbondale
What the record shows near Carbondale
The 2010s were the busiest decade near Carbondale, with 38 of the 112 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 18 so far. The Carbondale record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Carbondale, 78 reached EF0 or EF1 and 34 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Carbondale is rated EF5, of which 1 is logged.
Across the last 20 years Carbondale has averaged 3.2 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 64 in total. 2025 was the busiest of them with 8, and 3 of those years passed with none at all.