Godfrey, IL Tornado History — 140 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Godfrey, IL had?
Godfrey has had 140 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 16 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Godfrey?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Godfrey was an EF2 on May 16, 2025, causing 4 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Godfrey?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Godfrey, with 29 on record. April through June account for 79 of the 140 tornadoes on record near Godfrey.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Godfrey
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 53 total, averaging 2.6 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Godfrey 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
A video from Alton showed the vortex of a waterspout tornado dissipating as it approached the Lincoln Shields Recreation Area. A NWS damage survey was unable to find an (LSX)
NWS Damage Survey found that a brief EF0 tornado impacted a farm near IL Highway 4 and Interstate 70. (LSX)
Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from 2 SSW White City. Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from 2 SSW White City. Tree and power line across the roadway near th (LSX)
Brief weak EF0 tornado knocked down power poles and damaged a solar farm. (LSX)
*** 1 INJ *** Survey crews confirmed a brief EF-1 tornado that did damage within the communities of Moro and Midway... IL... early this morning along a 1.6 mile path. (LSX)
Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from 1 W Grafton. Significant roof damage to a local restaurant. Time estimated from radar. (LSX)
Within 25 miles of Godfrey. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Godfrey
One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Godfrey and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on May 16, 2025 and the most recent on May 16, 2025. It is already counted in the Godfrey totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.
*** 5 FATAL... 38 INJ *** Storm survey determined an EF3 tornado began near Clayton and tracked northeast through the city of St Louis and continued into Illinois. It d (LSX)
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 Godfrey
38 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Godfrey since 1950, across 8 events. 753 injuries have been reported across all events. 1959 was the deadliest year on record near Godfrey.
The deadliest single event was an F4 on February 10, 1959, which caused 21 fatalities along a 23.9-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Godfrey
What the record shows near Godfrey
The 2000s were the busiest decade near Godfrey, with 34 of the 140 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 19 so far. The Godfrey record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Godfrey, 101 reached EF0 or EF1 and 36 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Godfrey is rated EF4, of which 4 are logged. A further 3 near Godfrey are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Godfrey has averaged 2.6 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 53 in total. 2024 was the busiest of them with 11, and 4 of those years passed with none at all.