Sterling, IL Tornado History — 110 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Sterling, IL had?
Sterling has had 110 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 5 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Sterling?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Sterling was an EF1 on April 20, 2025.
When is tornado season in Sterling?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Sterling, with 26 on record. April through June account for 70 of the 110 tornadoes on record near Sterling.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Sterling
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 48 total, averaging 2.4 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Sterling since December 29, 2025
These are 5 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
The tornado began around 10:02 PM and lasted approximately 22 minutes... dissipating at around 10:24 PM. The peak estimated winds were around 90 mph. Path length was ne (LOT)
EFU tornado based on video and photos relayed to NWS through Emergency Management and broadcast media. No damage reported by EMA and local fire department. (DVN)
A short lived EF1 tornado with max winds around 100 mph impacted a farmstead in far northern Henry County Illinois... with max width around 50 yards. Damage was largely (DVN)
An NWS damage survey confirmed that a brief EF-1 tornado with estimated peak winds of 105 mph impacted a few properties along Ridge Road in southern Ogle County. One ho (LOT)
An NWS damage survey confirmed that an EF-1 tornado with estimated peak winds of 100 mph tracked for 5.75 miles through northwestern Lee County. The tornado damaged or (LOT)
Within 25 miles of Sterling. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Sterling
One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Sterling and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on April 20, 2025 and the most recent on April 20, 2025. It is already counted in the Sterling totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.
Corrects previous tornado report from 2 E Yorktown. One power pole was snapped at the beginning of the path. Three other power poles were replaced as well. This tornado (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 Sterling
3 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Sterling since 1950, across 2 events. 44 injuries have been reported across all events. 2015 was the deadliest year on record near Sterling.
The deadliest single event was an EF4 on April 9, 2015, which caused 2 fatalities along a 30.1-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Sterling
What the record shows near Sterling
The 2010s were the busiest decade near Sterling, with 27 of the 110 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 21 so far. The Sterling record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Sterling, 84 reached EF0 or EF1 and 19 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Sterling is rated EF4, of which 2 are logged. A further 7 near Sterling are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Sterling has averaged 2.4 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 48 in total. 2015 was the busiest of them with 11, and 9 of those years passed with none at all.