Peoria, IL Tornado History — 159 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Peoria, IL had?
Peoria has had 159 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 10 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Peoria?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Peoria was an EF1 on December 28, 2025.
When is tornado season in Peoria?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Peoria, with 45 on record. April through June account for 89 of the 159 tornadoes on record near Peoria.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Peoria
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 54 total, averaging 2.7 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Peoria since December 29, 2025
These are 10 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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)
Social media photos showing large tornado in progress. (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)
EF1... peak wind speed 100 mph... path length 0.52 miles... path width 80 yds. The tornado touched down about 2 miles southwest of Washburn in a field just north of Cou (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)
(ILX)
The tornado touched down about 2 miles east of Elba Center where it did some tree damage just south of Knox Road 900 N. It progressed across I-74 near E Knox Rd where i (ILX)
Within 25 miles of Peoria. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Peoria
3 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Peoria 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 Peoria 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)
EF-U tornado. A video shows a brief touchdown for about 45 seconds. No damage was observed or 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 Peoria
5 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Peoria since 1950, across 2 events. 315 injuries have been reported across all events. 2013 was the deadliest year on record near Peoria.
The deadliest single event was an EF4 on November 17, 2013, which caused 3 fatalities along a 46.4-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Peoria
What the record shows near Peoria
The 1990s were the busiest decade near Peoria, with 36 of the 159 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 22 so far. The Peoria record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Peoria, 112 reached EF0 or EF1 and 38 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Peoria is rated EF4, of which 3 are logged. A further 9 near Peoria are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Peoria has averaged 2.7 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 54 in total. 2024 was the busiest of them with 9, and 5 of those years passed with none at all.