Carol Stream, IL Tornado History — 182 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Carol Stream, IL had?
Carol Stream has had 182 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 10 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Carol Stream?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Carol Stream was an EF0 on March 14, 2025.
When is tornado season in Carol Stream?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Carol Stream, with 41 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 Carol Stream
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 91 total, averaging 4.5 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Carol Stream since December 29, 2025
These are 8 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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 Carol Stream. 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 Carol Stream
77 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Carol Stream since 1950, across 10 events. 1,374 injuries have been reported across all events. 1967 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was a F4 on April 21, 1967, which caused 33 fatalities along a 15.0-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Carol Stream
About Tornadoes in Carol Stream
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.
Carol Stream, Illinois sits within a region that has experienced substantial tornado activity over the past seven decades. According to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, 168 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of the city since 1950. The distribution across decades shows notable variation, with the 1970s recording 24 events and the 1960s seeing 22, while the 1980s, 1990s, and 2010s each logged 11 tornadoes. The 2020s have already witnessed a dramatic surge with 61 tornadoes recorded through early 2025, though this figure reflects the entire 25-mile radius rather than direct strikes on Carol Stream itself.
The intensity distribution of these tornadoes spans the full range of the Enhanced Fujita scale. The majority have been weaker storms, with 79 rated EF0 and 58 rated EF1. However, the area has also experienced significant violent tornadoes: 21 EF2 events, 3 EF3 tornadoes, 4 EF4 tornadoes, and remarkably, 1 EF5 tornado. July stands out as the peak month for tornado activity with 40 recorded events, consistent with the warm-season convective patterns typical of the upper Midwest.
The deadliest tornado in the area's recorded history occurred on April 21, 1967, when an F4 tornado claimed 33 lives while causing $27.5 million in property damage along a 15-mile path with a maximum width of 200 yards. The costliest event took place on March 27, 1991, when an F3 tornado produced $27.5 million in damage but resulted in no fatalities. The widest tornado on record was an F4 that struck on June 13, 1976, reaching an extraordinary 1,760 yards in width and causing 2 deaths along a 3.3-mile path.
Additional notable events include the longest-tracked tornado, an F3 that traveled 22.6 miles on March 12, 1976, with a relatively narrow 30-yard width and no fatalities. Most recently, an EF0 tornado touched down on March 15, 2025, traveling 0.8 miles with a 50-yard width and causing no injuries or property damage. These records illustrate the persistent tornado threat in the Carol Stream area across multiple decades and seasons.