Pekin, IL Tornado History — 166 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Pekin, IL had?
Pekin has had 166 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 12 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Pekin?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Pekin was an EF1 on December 28, 2025.
When is tornado season in Pekin?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Pekin, with 44 on record. April through June account for 95 of the 166 tornadoes on record near Pekin.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Pekin
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 57 total, averaging 2.9 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Pekin since December 29, 2025
These are 12 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
Brief touchdown in a field... no damage reported. (ILX)
Received video confirmation of a landspout. (ILX)
(ILX)
EF3... peak wind speed 155 mph... path length 11.2 miles... path width 930 yards. The tornado developed just east of the Illinois River... mainly damaging trees as it t (ILX)
EF2... max wind speed 115 mph... path length 2 mi. The tornado touched down along Runyon Rd about a half mile west of the Tazewell-McLean County line. It cause extensiv (ILX)
EF0... max wind speed 85 mph... path length 8.4 mi. The tornado touched down on the northwest side of Morton just north of the interchange of I-155 and I-74... where it (ILX)
(ILX)
EF1... max wind speed 90 mph... path length 6.3 miles. The tornado touched down just southwest of Powerton Lake... and moved along the south side of the lake... before (ILX)
Tornado on the ground with debris. (ILX)
(ILX)
A number of irrigation pivots were overturned along the path... and several trees had branches damaged. The tornado moved northeast toward Green Valley where it snapped (ILX)
Delayed public report relayed by broadcast media of a barn damaged. Time estimated by radar. (ILX)
Within 25 miles of Pekin. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Pekin
6 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Pekin and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on April 20, 2025 and the most recent on December 28, 2025. They are already counted in the Pekin totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.
An EF1 tornado with wind speeds up to 98 mph touched down along Allentown road about 3 miles east of Pekin High School and traveled about 1.75 miles along that road. It (ILX)
Video confirmation of tornado touchdown from public observer. Relayed by Logan County EMA Director. (ILX)
EF-U tornado. A video shows a brief touchdown for about 45 seconds. No damage was observed or reported. (ILX)
Rain-wrapped tornado on ground headed toward San Jose. (ILX)
Received video of a landspout tornado just east of I-155 near US 136. No damage reported. (ILX)
The tornado affected mainly rural areas of Tazewell County where it produced EF-1 damage to trees... outbuildings and power poles... with peak winds of 90 mph. It reach (ILX)
Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
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 Pekin
6 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Pekin since 1950, across 3 events. 353 injuries have been reported across all events. 2013 was the deadliest year on record near Pekin.
The deadliest single event was an EF4 on November 17, 2013, which caused 3 fatalities along a 46.4-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Pekin
What the record shows near Pekin
The 1990s were the busiest decade near Pekin, with 34 of the 166 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 25 so far. The Pekin record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Pekin, 120 reached EF0 or EF1 and 37 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Pekin is rated EF4, of which 3 are logged. A further 9 near Pekin are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Pekin has averaged 2.9 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 57 in total. 2024 was the busiest of them with 8, and 5 of those years passed with none at all.