Kankakee, IL Tornado History — 139 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Kankakee, IL had?
Kankakee has had 139 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 7 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Kankakee?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Kankakee was an EF0 on December 28, 2025.
When is tornado season in Kankakee?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Kankakee, with 49 on record. April through June account for 94 of the 139 tornadoes on record near Kankakee.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Kankakee
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 76 total, averaging 3.8 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Kankakee since December 29, 2025
These are 10 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
NWS survey confirms an EF-2 tornado with peak winds near 115 mph... peak width of 300 yards... and path length of 25.8 miles. (LOT)
NWS survey confirms an EF-1 tornado with peak winds near 90 mph... peak width of 150 yards... and path length of 1.52 miles. (LOT)
NWS storm survey confirmed that an EF-0 tornado with peak winds estimated around 85 mph occurred near Morocco... IN. (LOT)
NWS storm survey confirms a preliminary EF-0 tornado. Peak winds of 80 mph... width of 250 yards... and length of 2.1 miles. (LOT)
NWS survey confirms a preliminary EF-0 tornado. Peak winds of 85 mph... width of 200 yards... and length of 12.6 miles. (LOT)
Video and pictures from storm spotters confirm a brief EF-U. No known damage. (LOT)
Live video shows tornado on the ground between Dwight and Reddick. (LOT)
[Landspout] Corrects previous landspout report from 5 NE Donovan. Numerous pictures and videos of landspout tornado. First report was received at 5:23 PM and likely la (LOT)
*** 2 FATAL *** Three manufactured homes completed destroyed on 600 West Road north of 800 North Road. Two persons killed in one residence. Relayed by broadcast media. (LOT)
Video shows tornado on the ground near the Kankakee Airport. (LOT)
Within 25 miles of Kankakee. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Kankakee
2 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Kankakee and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on December 28, 2025 and the most recent on December 28, 2025. They are already counted in the Kankakee totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.
Video footage and photos taken by storm spotters and storm chasers show that a funnel cloud was intermittently in contact with the ground as it tracked across open farm (LOT)
An NWS damage survey confirmed an EF-0 tornado with estimated peak winds of 80 MPH... path length of 2.64 miles... and maximum width of 100 yards impacted rural areas w (LOT)
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 Kankakee
4 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Kankakee since 1950, across 4 events. 147 injuries have been reported across all events. 1978 was the deadliest year on record near Kankakee.
The deadliest single event was an F4 on April 17, 1963, which caused 1 fatality along a 57.3-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Kankakee
What the record shows near Kankakee
The 2010s were the busiest decade near Kankakee, with 39 of the 139 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 29 so far. The Kankakee record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Kankakee, 103 reached EF0 or EF1 and 27 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Kankakee is rated EF4, of which 1 is logged. A further 9 near Kankakee are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Kankakee has averaged 3.8 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 76 in total. 2014 was the busiest of them with 15, and 2 of those years passed with none at all.