Freeport, IL Tornado History — 80 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Freeport, IL had?
Freeport has had 80 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 4 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Freeport?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Freeport was an EF1 on July 15, 2024.
When is tornado season in Freeport?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Freeport, with 18 on record. April through June account for 45 of the 80 tornadoes on record near Freeport.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Freeport
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 27 total, averaging 1.4 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Freeport since December 29, 2025
These are 3 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
Trained spotter reports tornado on the ground just southeast of Harrison. (LOT)
Corrects tornado start time from 3 NNE Kent. A high-end EF2... possible multi-vortex... tornado with estimated peak winds around 130 mph started along Highway 20... SW (DVN)
A tornado formed briefly in the occlusion of an RFD northwest of Pearl City. It heavily damaged and destroyed several farm outbuildings... lifted a large farm wagon int (DVN)
Within 25 miles of Freeport. 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 Freeport
2 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Freeport since 1950, across 2 events. 68 injuries have been reported across all events. 1972 was the deadliest year on record near Freeport.
The deadliest single event was an F2 on April 6, 1972, which caused 1 fatality along a 17.5-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Freeport
What the record shows near Freeport
The 2020s are the busiest decade on record so far near Freeport, with 17 of the 80 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles. The Freeport record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Freeport, 64 reached EF0 or EF1 and 12 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Freeport is rated EF3, of which 4 are logged. A further 4 near Freeport are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Freeport has averaged 1.4 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 27 in total. 2024 was the busiest of them with 8, and 11 of those years passed with none at all.