Streamwood, IL Tornado History — 156 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Streamwood, IL had?
Streamwood has had 156 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 6 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Streamwood?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Streamwood was an EF0 on March 14, 2025.
When is tornado season in Streamwood?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Streamwood, with 34 on record. Spring through early summer (April–June) generally sees the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Streamwood
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 78 total, averaging 3.9 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Streamwood since December 29, 2025
These are 6 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
Within 25 miles of Streamwood. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
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 Streamwood
13 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Streamwood since 1950, across 6 events. 393 injuries have been reported across all events. 1965 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was a F4 on April 11, 1965, which caused 6 fatalities along a 9.1-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Streamwood
About Tornadoes in Streamwood
This overview was written April 23, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.
Streamwood, Illinois has experienced significant tornado activity within a 25-mile radius since record-keeping began in 1950, with 147 documented tornadoes according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. The distribution across decades shows considerable variation, from a low of 6 tornadoes in the 1980s to a notable surge of 56 events in the 2020s. The 1950s through 1970s saw relatively consistent activity with 13, 19, and 21 tornadoes respectively, while the 1990s and 2000s recorded 10 and 14 events.
The intensity distribution of these tornadoes reveals that most have been on the lower end of the Enhanced Fujita scale, with 67 rated EF0 and 52 rated EF1. Stronger tornadoes have been less common but not absent from the area's history: 22 were rated EF2, 1 reached EF3 intensity, and 3 achieved EF4 status. Two tornadoes remain unrated in the historical record. July has been the most active month for tornado occurrence in the region, accounting for 32 events, which aligns with typical summer convective patterns when atmospheric instability peaks across the Midwest.
The deadliest tornado on record was an F4 that struck on April 11, 1965, claiming 6 lives and carving a 9.1-mile path with a maximum width of 400 yards. The costliest event occurred on March 12, 1976, when an F2 tornado caused $2,750,000 in property damage, resulted in 2 fatalities, and traveled 15.1 miles. The widest tornado recorded was an F0 on August 2, 1978, which reached 880 yards in width despite causing no reported damage or injuries. The longest-track tornado was an F1 on July 15, 1972, which traveled 21.9 miles and caused $2,750,000 in damage despite being only 10 yards wide at its maximum.
The most recent tornado in the area was an EF0 that occurred on March 15, 2025, with a brief 0.8-mile path, 50-yard width, and no reported fatalities or property damage. This event demonstrates that tornado activity continues in the region, though the Enhanced Fujita scale—implemented in 2007 as an update to the original Fujita scale—provides more refined damage assessments based on specific damage indicators and degrees of damage to various structures.