Highland Park, IL Tornado History — 79 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Highland Park, IL had?
Highland Park has had 79 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 3 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Highland Park?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Highland Park was an EF0 on March 14, 2025.
When is tornado season in Highland Park?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Highland Park, with 19 on record. April through June account for 33 of the 79 tornadoes on record near Highland Park.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Highland Park
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 34 total, averaging 1.7 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Highland Park since December 29, 2025
These are 2 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
Photo passed along of a tornado in Glen Ellyn... close to location of radar-indicated TDS. (LOT)
A NWS storm survey determined that a brief EF0 tornado produced tree damage and sporadic roofing damage across the far northern portion of the Saddlebrook Farms subdivi (LOT)
Within 25 miles of Highland Park. 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 Highland Park
12 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Highland Park since 1950, across 6 events. 464 injuries have been reported across all events. 1965 was the deadliest year on record near Highland Park.
The deadliest single event was an F4 on April 11, 1965, which caused 6 fatalities along a 9.1-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Highland Park
What the record shows near Highland Park
The 2020s are the busiest decade on record so far near Highland Park, with 26 of the 79 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles. The Highland Park record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Highland Park, 61 reached EF0 or EF1 and 18 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Highland Park is rated EF4, of which 3 are logged.
Across the last 20 years Highland Park has averaged 1.7 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 34 in total. 2024 was the busiest of them with 11, and 7 of those years passed with none at all.