New Lenox, IL Tornado History — 189 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has New Lenox, IL had?
New Lenox has had 189 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 14 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near New Lenox?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of New Lenox was an EF0 on March 19, 2025.
When is tornado season in New Lenox?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near New Lenox, with 49 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 New Lenox
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 102 total, averaging 5.1 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near New Lenox since December 29, 2025
These are 7 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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 New Lenox. 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 New Lenox
71 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of New Lenox since 1950, across 9 events. 1,175 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 New Lenox
About Tornadoes in New Lenox
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.
New Lenox, Illinois, sits in a region with substantial tornado activity. According to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, 175 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of the city since 1950. The majority of these events have been relatively weak, with 83 rated EF0 and 60 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity based on damage. However, the area has also experienced more significant tornadoes, including one EF5 event, four EF4 tornadoes, five EF3 tornadoes, and 19 EF2 tornadoes.
Tornado frequency in the New Lenox area has increased notably in recent decades. The 1950s saw only 6 recorded tornadoes within the search radius, while the 2020s have already recorded 54 events through early 2025. The 2010s brought 29 tornadoes, and both the 1970s and 2000s each saw 20 events. July is the peak month for tornado activity in this area, with 42 tornadoes recorded during that month since 1950, though tornadoes can occur throughout the warm season when atmospheric conditions favor severe thunderstorm development.
The deadliest tornado on record near New Lenox was an F4 that struck on April 21, 1967, killing 33 people and causing $27.5 million in property damage along a 15-mile path. Another F4 tornado on June 13, 1976, was the widest recorded in the area at 1,760 yards across, resulting in 2 fatalities and $2.75 million in damage. The costliest tornado was an F3 on March 27, 1991, which caused $27.5 million in property damage but resulted in no fatalities. The longest-track tornado was an F4 on April 17, 1963, which traveled 57.3 miles and killed one person.
The most recent tornado near New Lenox occurred on March 19, 2025, rated EF0 with a brief 0.3-mile path and a maximum width of 90 yards. This event caused no injuries or property damage. The historical record demonstrates that while weak tornadoes are most common in this area, the region has experienced multiple violent tornadoes capable of causing significant destruction and loss of life.