Lake Zurich, IL Tornado History — 114 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Lake Zurich, IL had?
Lake Zurich has had 114 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 5 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Lake Zurich?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Lake Zurich was an EF0 on March 14, 2025.
When is tornado season in Lake Zurich?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Lake Zurich, with 27 on record. April through June account for 50 of the 114 tornadoes on record near Lake Zurich.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Lake Zurich
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 45 total, averaging 2.3 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Lake Zurich since December 29, 2025
These are 5 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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 a brief EF-0 tornado started just south of Wheaton College. Tornado was on the ground for 2 minutes or less. Peak width of 100 yards and winds of 75 (LOT)
Photo passed along of a tornado in Glen Ellyn... close to location of radar-indicated TDS. (LOT)
McHenry County EMA reports roof damage to barn along Harmony Road near Brier Hill Road. Video shared to social media shows likely tornado with lofted debris in the vici (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)
An NWS damage survey confirmed an EF-1 tornado with estimated peak winds of 100 MPH... path length of 3.0 miles... and maximum width of 400 yards impacted Bartlett... c (LOT)
Within 25 miles of Lake Zurich. 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 Lake Zurich
35 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Lake Zurich since 1950, across 6 events. 799 injuries have been reported across all events. 1967 was the deadliest year on record near Lake Zurich.
The deadliest single event was an F4 on April 21, 1967, which caused 24 fatalities along a 25.5-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Lake Zurich
What the record shows near Lake Zurich
The 2020s are the busiest decade on record so far near Lake Zurich, with 37 of the 114 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles. The Lake Zurich record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Lake Zurich, 85 reached EF0 or EF1 and 28 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Lake Zurich is rated EF4, of which 4 are logged. A further 1 near Lake Zurich is unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Lake Zurich has averaged 2.3 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 45 in total. 2023 was the busiest of them with 14, and 8 of those years passed with none at all.