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Dixon, IL Tornado History — 102 Tornadoes Since 1950

Illinois · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Dixon, IL had?

Dixon has had 102 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 5 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Dixon?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Dixon was an EF1 on July 15, 2024.

When is tornado season in Dixon?

May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Dixon, with 26 on record. April through June account for 61 of the 102 tornadoes on record near Dixon.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
102
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
5
4.9% of total
Peak Month
May
26 on record
Per Year Avg
1.3
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Dixon

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 43 total, averaging 2.1 per year over this window.

2026 0+7 prelim
2025 0
2024 5
2023 8
2022 1
2021 1
2020 8
2019 0
2018 0
2017 2
2016 4
2015 9
2014 0
2013 2
2012 0
2011 2
2010 1
2009 0
2008 0
2007 0

Striped bars mark preliminary reports not yet confirmed by NWS survey — excluded from the confirmed counts.

Preliminary tornado reports near Dixon 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.

Preliminary August 21, 2026
4 SE Sublette, Lee County, IL
Video shows very brief tornado just north of US-52 at Cedar Grove Road. (LOT)
Preliminary August 10, 2026
5 E Amboy, Lee County, IL
The tornado began around 10:02 PM and lasted approximately 22 minutes... dissipating at around 10:24 PM. The peak estimated winds were around 90 mph. Path length was ne (LOT)
Preliminary June 12, 2026
4 WSW Lee, Lee County, IL
NWS survey confirms a preliminary EF-U tornado. No known damage. Max width 50 yards... and length of 6 miles. (LOT)
Preliminary June 11, 2026
3 SW Walnut, Bureau County, IL
EFU tornado based on video and photos relayed to NWS through Emergency Management and broadcast media. No damage reported by EMA and local fire department. (DVN)
Preliminary April 2, 2026
3 SSW Davis Junction, Ogle County, IL
An NWS damage survey confirmed that an EF-0 tornado with estimated peak winds of 85 mph and a path length of 2.71 miles tracked through the community of Holcomb in nort (LOT)
Preliminary April 2, 2026
3 N Grand Detour, Ogle County, IL
An NWS damage survey confirmed that a brief EF-1 tornado with estimated peak winds of 105 mph impacted a few properties along Ridge Road in southern Ogle County. One ho (LOT)
Preliminary April 2, 2026
4 NNW Nelson, Lee County, IL
An NWS damage survey confirmed that an EF-1 tornado with estimated peak winds of 100 mph tracked for 5.75 miles through northwestern Lee County. The tornado damaged or (LOT)

Within 25 miles of Dixon. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 7
1960s 9
1970s 12
1980s 8
1990s 17
2000s 6
2010s 20
2020s 23

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.

EF0 38
EF1 42
EF2 9
EF3 3
EF4 2
Unrated 8

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 3
Mar 9
Apr 13
May 26
Jun 22
Jul 13
Aug 7
Sep 4
Oct 1
Nov 2
Dec 2

Casualties on Record Near Dixon

5 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Dixon since 1950, across 4 events. 75 injuries have been reported across all events. 2015 was the deadliest year on record near Dixon.

The deadliest single event was an EF4 on April 9, 2015, which caused 2 fatalities along a 30.1-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Dixon

Deadliest Tornado
EF4 on April 9, 2015 — 2 fatalities, 30.1 mi path, 700 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
EF4 on April 9, 2015 — $19.0M in reported property damage.
Widest Tornado
EF2 on June 22, 2015 — 880 yards wide.
Longest Path
F1 on July 21, 1961 — 147.4 mile track.
Most Recent
EF1 on July 15, 2024.

What the record shows near Dixon

The 2020s are the busiest decade on record so far near Dixon, with 23 of the 102 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles. The Dixon record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Dixon, 80 reached EF0 or EF1 and 14 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Dixon is rated EF4, of which 2 are logged. A further 8 near Dixon are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.

Across the last 20 years Dixon has averaged 2.1 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 43 in total. 2015 was the busiest of them with 9, and 9 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Dixon, IL had?
Since 1950, 102 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Dixon. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Dixon?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Dixon was an EF4 on April 9, 2015, which caused 2 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Dixon?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Dixon, with 26 tornadoes on record. Tornadoes can occur any time of year, but spring months (April–June) generally see the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
Has Dixon been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Dixon, there have been 0 EF5 and 2 EF4 tornadoes recorded since 1950. EF4 and EF5 tornadoes are the most destructive ratings on the Enhanced Fujita scale, with winds above 166 mph.
When was the most recent tornado near Dixon?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Dixon was an EF1 on July 15, 2024.
How do I get tornado warnings for Dixon?
Vortex delivers real-time tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm alerts, and SPC outlook updates for any US location via push notification and phone call. Alerts are sourced directly from the National Weather Service and updated within seconds of issuance.

Official Resources

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