Ottawa, IL Tornado History — 105 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Ottawa, IL had?
Ottawa has had 105 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 8 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Ottawa?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Ottawa was an Unrated on July 14, 2024.
When is tornado season in Ottawa?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Ottawa, with 40 on record. April through June account for 64 of the 105 tornadoes on record near Ottawa.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Ottawa
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 55 total, averaging 2.8 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Ottawa since December 29, 2025
These are 6 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
Video on social media. (DVN)
Video shows very brief tornado just north of US-52 at Cedar Grove Road. (LOT)
An EF-1 tornado has been confirmed north of Streator. This tornado track completed a loop with a path length of approximately 5 miles. (LOT)
Photo shows a tornado near Ransom. (LOT)
Trained spotter reports tornado on the ground southwest of Streator. (LOT)
An NWS storm survey confirmed an EF-1 tornado with peak winds near 90 mph... path length of 14.9 miles... and maximum width near 700 yards started in Bureau County and (LOT)
Within 25 miles of Ottawa. 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 Ottawa
17 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Ottawa since 1950, across 6 events. 286 injuries have been reported across all events. 2004 was the deadliest year on record near Ottawa.
The deadliest single event was an F3 on April 20, 2004, which caused 8 fatalities along a 15.8-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Ottawa
What the record shows near Ottawa
The 2010s were the busiest decade near Ottawa, with 39 of the 105 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 15 so far. The Ottawa record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Ottawa, 73 reached EF0 or EF1 and 26 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Ottawa is rated EF4, of which 1 is logged. A further 6 near Ottawa are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Ottawa has averaged 2.8 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 55 in total. 2016 was the busiest of them with 10, and 7 of those years passed with none at all.