La Grange, IL Tornado History — 185 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has La Grange, IL had?
La Grange has had 185 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 8 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near La Grange?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of La Grange was an EF0 on March 19, 2025.
When is tornado season in La Grange?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near La Grange, with 42 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 La Grange
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 89 total, averaging 4.5 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near La Grange since December 29, 2025
These are 9 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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 La Grange. 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 La Grange
72 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of La Grange since 1950, across 9 events. 1,315 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 La Grange
About Tornadoes in La Grange
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.
La Grange, Illinois, lies within a region that has experienced significant tornado activity over the past seven decades. According to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, 154 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of the city since 1950. The 2020s have seen a notable surge in recorded events, with 50 tornadoes documented so far this decade—more than any previous decade. The 1970s previously held the record with 22 tornadoes, followed by 21 in the 1960s. This recent increase may reflect improvements in detection technology and reporting practices as much as any change in actual tornado frequency.
The majority of tornadoes in the La Grange area have been relatively weak on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which rates tornado intensity based on damage. Of the 154 recorded events, 71 were rated EF0 and 59 were rated EF1, meaning they caused light to moderate damage. However, the region has also experienced more powerful storms: 20 tornadoes reached EF2 intensity, two reached EF3, and two reached EF4. July has been the most active month historically, accounting for 34 tornado events, though tornadoes have occurred throughout the warm season when atmospheric conditions favor severe thunderstorm development.
The deadliest tornado on record near La Grange was an F4 that struck on April 21, 1967, killing 33 people and causing $27,500,000 in property damage along a 15-mile path. Another significant event occurred on March 27, 1991, when an F3 tornado caused $27,500,000 in damage but resulted in no fatalities. The widest tornado recorded in the area was an F4 on June 13, 1976, which reached 1,760 yards in maximum width, claimed two lives, and traveled 3.3 miles. The longest-tracked tornado was an F1 on July 15, 1972, which carved a 21.9-mile path but remained narrow at just 10 yards wide.
Most recently, an EF0 tornado passed through the area on March 19, 2025, traveling 0.3 miles with a maximum width of 90 yards and causing no injuries or property damage. This event serves as a reminder that tornado activity remains an ongoing meteorological reality for communities in northern Illinois.