Decatur, IL Tornado History — 176 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Decatur, IL had?
Decatur has had 176 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 7 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Decatur?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Decatur was an EF2 on December 28, 2025.
When is tornado season in Decatur?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Decatur, with 48 on record. April through June account for 104 of the 176 tornadoes on record near Decatur.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Decatur
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 67 total, averaging 3.4 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Decatur since December 29, 2025
These are 11 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
EF-1... max winds 100 mph... path length 3.37 miles... width 75 yards. The tornado touched down about 4 miles southwest of Bethany in northeast Christian County where i (ILX)
EF-1... max winds 110 mph... path length 10.7 miles... width 700 yards. The tornado began in northern Christian County in the Griswold Conservation Area... causing exte (ILX)
The tornado touched down about 5 miles southwest of Bement... near the intersection of County Rd 600 and N 500 East Rd where it damaged two large trees. The tornado pro (ILX)
The tornado touched down about 2 miles west-northwest of Argenta where it damaged an outbuilding and some trees. It progressed east through Argenta where it snapped off (ILX)
The tornado touched down about 3 miles northwest of Mount Pulaski where it did some minor tree damage. The tornado intensified as it progressed east along 900 St... whe (ILX)
Small machine shed collapsed with its debris strewn toward the ENE near the intersection of Birkbeck Rd and Northfork Rd. (ILX)
EF1... max wind speed 90 mph... path length 15 miles... path width 400 yds. A tornado touched down in south central Logan County... commencing near the intersection of (ILX)
EF1... peak wind speed 100 mph... path length 2.36 mi. The tornado set down west of a farmstead and collapsed an empty... 90 ft concrete grain silo. It also blew out th (ILX)
EF1... max wind speed 100 mph... path length 7.0 mi. This tornado touched down near the intersection of 1500 North Rd and 550 East Rd... where it damaged two farm out b (ILX)
The tornado touched down about 2 miles west of Lovington along County Rd 700 E and progressed to the northeast eventually ending near Lanton about 3 miles north of Lovi (ILX)
The tornado touched down just southwest of Assumption and town along W Illinois St where it uprooted and snapped numerous trees and knocked over a couple power poles. T (ILX)
Within 25 miles of Decatur. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Decatur
5 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Decatur and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on April 2, 2025 and the most recent on December 28, 2025. They are already counted in the Decatur totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.
Garage destroyed... roof blown off a home and power lines down by a tornado. (ILX)
The EF-2 tornado touched down in far eastern Christian County where a spotter captured video of the tornado heading toward and crossing IL Route 48. The tornado remaine (ILX)
Rain wrapped tornado reported. Relayed by EMA. (ILX)
EF0 strength with max wind speeds of 85 mph and path length of 12.79 miles... tracked northeast from Logan county into Macon county and ended in De Witt county. The tor (ILX)
THIS CORRECTS THE START TIME OF THE TORNADO. EF0 STRENGTH WITH MAX WIND SPEEDS OF 85 MPH AND PATH LENGTH OF 12.79 MILES... TRACKED NORTHEAST FROM LOGAN COUNTY INTO MACO (ILX)
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 Decatur
3 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Decatur since 1950, across 3 events. 168 injuries have been reported across all events. 1999 was the deadliest year on record near Decatur.
The deadliest single event was an F3 on April 3, 1974, which caused 1 fatality along a 20.9-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Decatur
What the record shows near Decatur
The 2000s were the busiest decade near Decatur, with 49 of the 176 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 32 so far. The Decatur record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Decatur, 137 reached EF0 or EF1 and 28 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Decatur is rated EF4, of which 1 is logged. A further 11 near Decatur are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Decatur has averaged 3.4 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 67 in total. 2023 was the busiest of them with 12, and 3 of those years passed with none at all.