Montgomery, IL Tornado History — 188 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Montgomery, IL had?
Montgomery has had 188 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 8 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Montgomery?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Montgomery was an EF0 on March 19, 2025.
When is tornado season in Montgomery?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Montgomery, with 39 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 Montgomery
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 91 total, averaging 4.5 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Montgomery 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
Within 25 miles of Montgomery. 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 Montgomery
35 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Montgomery since 1950, across 5 events. 546 injuries have been reported across all events. 1990 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was a F5 on August 28, 1990, which caused 29 fatalities along a 16.4-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Montgomery
About Tornadoes in Montgomery
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.
Montgomery, Illinois, sits in a region with substantial tornado activity, as documented by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. Since 1950, a total of 182 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of the city, making this area one of the more active zones for severe convective weather in northern Illinois. The distribution of these events has varied considerably by decade, with the 2020s showing a dramatic spike to 69 tornadoes thus far, compared to 26 in the 2000s and just 11 in the 2010s. The 1970s also saw elevated activity with 25 recorded tornadoes.
Most tornadoes in the Montgomery area have been relatively weak, with 94 rated EF0 and 59 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity based on damage to structures and vegetation. However, the region has experienced significant violent tornadoes as well. The record includes two EF4 tornadoes, four EF3 events, and notably, one EF5 tornado—the most intense rating possible. This EF5 struck on August 28, 1990, tragically claiming 29 lives while carving a path 16.4 miles long and up to 600 yards wide, despite causing only $275,000 in recorded property damage. The costliest tornado on record was an F3 that occurred on March 27, 1991, producing $27.5 million in damage along a 15-mile track, though fortunately causing no fatalities.
The widest tornado recorded near Montgomery was an F4 on June 13, 1976, which reached an extraordinary 1,760 yards in width—more than a mile across—and resulted in two deaths and $2.75 million in damage. The longest-tracking tornado was an F2 on November 12, 1965, which traveled 35.9 miles and caused two fatalities along with $27.5 million in damage. July stands out as the peak month for tornado activity in this area, with 41 events recorded during that month since 1950, reflecting the typical summer pattern of severe thunderstorm development across the Midwest.
Tornado activity has continued into recent years, with the most recent event being an EF0 on March 19, 2025, which traveled just 0.3 miles with a maximum width of 90 yards and caused no injuries or property damage. The historical record underscores both the frequency and occasional severity of tornadoes affecting the Montgomery area.