Rock Island, IL Tornado History — 181 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Rock Island, IL had?
Rock Island has had 181 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 9 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Rock Island?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Rock Island was an EF2 on July 11, 2025.
When is tornado season in Rock Island?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Rock Island, with 46 on record. April through June account for 107 of the 181 tornadoes on record near Rock Island.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Rock Island
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 77 total, averaging 3.9 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Rock Island since December 29, 2025
These are 3 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
An EF0 tornado... with max wind speeds of 85 MPH... caused damage to trees and houses along its half-mile path. The tornado first caused some minor shingle damage to a (DVN)
Public report of dust associated with funnel cloud. No known damage. (DVN)
A brief EF0 tornado passed through Viola... IL... with maximum winds around 85 mph. Damage along the short path was done to trees... both uprooting and snapping... with (DVN)
Within 25 miles of Rock Island. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Rock Island
7 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Rock Island and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on April 20, 2025 and the most recent on July 11, 2025. They are already counted in the Rock Island totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.
This short-lived tornado peeled a ~45 x 40 sheet metal section of an outbuilding roof and threw it over 100 yards into a corn field. There were also crop and minor tree (DVN)
A quickly strengthening tornado developed near Blue Grass and moved northeast dissipating on the west side of Davenport. It was rated EF-2 with peak winds to 120 mph. T (DVN)
[Landspout] Brief landspout tornado persisted for one minute between Park View and Eldridge. (DVN)
This longer lived EF1 tornado tracked from southwest of Coyne Center into the southern Quad Cities metro area ending near the Avenue of the Cities in Moline. This torna (DVN)
EF-0 tornado with maximum winds of 85 mph and a maximum width of 50 yards resulted in several trees being snapped and uprooted throughout the Cordova Cemetery... with m (DVN)
Tornado sighted crossing Wolf Road. Trees snapped and over the road... power lines down. (DVN)
EFU with at least a 1/4 mile path was depicted by radar and a scour mark in a freshly plowed field. Corn debris was also found in the fence at this location. (DVN)
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 Rock Island
1 fatality has been recorded within 25 miles of Rock Island since 1950, across 1 event. 40 injuries have been reported across all events. 2013 was the deadliest year on record near Rock Island.
The deadliest single event was an EF1 on June 24, 2013, which caused 1 fatality along a 6.5-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Rock Island
What the record shows near Rock Island
The 2010s were the busiest decade near Rock Island, with 37 of the 181 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 37 so far. The Rock Island record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Rock Island, 128 reached EF0 or EF1 and 45 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Rock Island is rated EF3, of which 9 are logged. A further 8 near Rock Island are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Rock Island has averaged 3.9 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 77 in total. 2025 was the busiest of them with 13, and 5 of those years passed with none at all.