Geneva, IL Tornado History — 183 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Geneva, IL had?
Geneva has had 183 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 9 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Geneva?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Geneva was an EF0 on March 14, 2025.
When is tornado season in Geneva?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Geneva, with 39 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 Geneva
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 89 total, averaging 4.5 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Geneva since December 29, 2025
These are 6 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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 Geneva. 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 Geneva
43 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Geneva since 1950, across 8 events. 746 injuries have been reported across all events. 1990 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was a F5 on August 28, 1990, which caused 29 fatalities along a 16.4-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Geneva
About Tornadoes in Geneva
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.
Geneva, Illinois, sits within a region that has experienced substantial tornado activity over the past seven decades. According to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, 176 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of the city since 1950, with activity varying considerably across different time periods. The 1970s saw the highest concentration with 25 events, while the 2020s have recorded 69 tornadoes to date, reflecting improved detection capabilities and reporting standards in recent years.
The majority of these tornadoes have been relatively weak, with 90 rated EF0 and 55 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity based on damage. However, the area has also witnessed significant violent tornadoes. Four EF3 tornadoes, three EF4 tornadoes, and one EF5 tornado have occurred within the 25-mile radius since records began. July stands out as the peak month for tornado activity with 40 recorded events, though tornadoes have occurred during various times of the year, including notable March events.
The deadliest tornado on record was an F5 that struck on August 28, 1990, claiming 29 lives along a 16.4-mile path with a maximum width of 600 yards and causing $275,000 in property damage. The costliest event was an F3 tornado on March 27, 1991, which produced $27.5 million in property damage across a 15-mile track but resulted in no fatalities. The widest tornado recorded was an F4 on June 13, 1976, spanning 1,760 yards at its maximum width and causing two fatalities and $2.75 million in damage along a 3.3-mile path.
The longest-tracked tornado was an F3 that traveled 22.6 miles on March 12, 1976, with a relatively narrow maximum width of just 30 yards, causing $2.75 million in damage but no deaths. Most recently, an EF0 tornado passed through the area on March 15, 2025, traveling 3.6 miles with a maximum width of 125 yards and causing no injuries or property damage.