Harvey, IL Tornado History — 160 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Harvey, IL had?
Harvey has had 160 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 8 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Harvey?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Harvey was an EF0 on March 19, 2025.
When is tornado season in Harvey?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Harvey, with 41 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 Harvey
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 87 total, averaging 4.3 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Harvey 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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 Harvey. 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 Harvey
68 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Harvey since 1950, across 6 events. 1,184 injuries have been reported across all events. 1967 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was a F4 on April 21, 1967, which caused 33 fatalities along a 15.0-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Harvey
About Tornadoes in Harvey
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.
Harvey, Illinois, located in the southern suburbs of Chicago, has experienced significant tornado activity over the past 75 years. According to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records, 136 tornadoes have been documented within 25 miles of the city since 1950. This activity has increased markedly in recent decades, with 43 tornadoes recorded in the 2020s alone—more than any previous decade and nearly triple the count from the 1990s. The 2010s saw 27 events, while earlier decades typically ranged from 6 to 14 tornadoes.
The majority of tornadoes in the Harvey area have been relatively weak, with 62 rated EF0 and 50 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity based on damage. However, the region has also seen stronger storms: 18 tornadoes reached EF2 intensity, 3 reached EF3, and 2 reached EF4. July has been the most active month historically, accounting for 36 of the recorded events, though tornadoes have occurred throughout the spring and summer months when atmospheric conditions favor severe thunderstorm development.
The deadliest tornado on record was an F4 that struck on April 21, 1967, killing 33 people and causing $27.5 million in property damage along a 15-mile path. Another F4 tornado occurred on June 13, 1976, claiming 2 lives and achieving the widest width on record at 1,760 yards—nearly a full mile across. The costliest tornado was an F3 on March 27, 1991, which caused $27.5 million in damage but resulted in no fatalities. More recently, an EF1 tornado on July 16, 2024, traveled 29.1 miles, making it the longest-tracked tornado in the area's recorded history.
The most recent tornado occurred on March 19, 2025, when an EF0 touched down briefly with a path length of just 0.3 miles and a maximum width of 90 yards, causing no injuries or property damage. This event underscores the ongoing nature of tornado risk in the region, even as forecasting and warning systems continue to improve.