Springfield, IL Tornado History — 167 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Springfield, IL had?
Springfield has had 167 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 11 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Springfield?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Springfield was an EF1 on June 18, 2025.
When is tornado season in Springfield?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Springfield, with 35 on record. April through June account for 98 of the 167 tornadoes on record near Springfield.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Springfield
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 58 total, averaging 2.9 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Springfield 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
(ILX)
EF-0... max wind 85 mph... path length 5.72 miles... max width 200 yards. The tornado touched down about 1.5 miles west of Pawnee Junction near the I-55 exit... then tr (ILX)
EF-1... max winds 100 mph... path length 24.1 miles... width 150 yards. The tornado first touched down in southern Menard county and moved southeast into Salisbury. In (ILX)
EF-1... max wind speed 110 mph... path length 20.25 miles... max width 250 yards. The Springfield to Mechanicsburg tornado started at the Springfield airport where it l (ILX)
EF-1... max wind speed 107 mph... path length 4.75 miles... max width 150 yards. The tornado spun up 3 miles northeast of Tallula... damaging a grain bin and several tr (ILX)
EF1... max wind speed 90 mph... path length 15 miles... path width 400 yds. A tornado touched down in south central Logan County... commencing near the intersection of (ILX)
(ILX)
Within 25 miles of Springfield. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Springfield
3 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Springfield and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on June 18, 2025 and the most recent on June 22, 2025. They are already counted in the Springfield totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.
Corrects previous tornado report from 2 E Prentice. EF-0 tornado with maximum winds of 80 mph. Start time and track were adjusted based on Sentinel satellite data. Most (ILX)
EF-1 tornado with max winds of 110 mph. It tracked 1.4 miles and caused tree damage... destroyed 5 grain bins... and removed shingles from two homes. (ILX)
Corrects previous tornado report from 4 S Pleasant Plains. EF-1 tornado with max winds of 100 mph. Track starting point and length was adjusted based on Sentinel satell (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 Springfield
4 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Springfield since 1950, across 3 events. 168 injuries have been reported across all events. 1957 was the deadliest year on record near Springfield.
The deadliest single event was an F4 on June 14, 1957, which caused 2 fatalities along a 4.3-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Springfield
What the record shows near Springfield
The 2000s were the busiest decade near Springfield, with 41 of the 167 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 32 so far. The Springfield record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Springfield, 119 reached EF0 or EF1 and 37 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Springfield is rated EF4, of which 1 is logged. A further 11 near Springfield are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Springfield has averaged 2.9 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 58 in total. 2023 was the busiest of them with 12, and 3 of those years passed with none at all.