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Sycamore, IL Tornado History — 115 Tornadoes Since 1950

Illinois · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Sycamore, IL had?

Sycamore has had 115 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 4 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Sycamore?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Sycamore was an EF0 on June 3, 2025.

When is tornado season in Sycamore?

August is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Sycamore, with 25 on record. April through June account for 53 of the 115 tornadoes on record near Sycamore.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
115
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
4
3.5% of total
Peak Month
August
25 on record
Per Year Avg
1.5
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Sycamore

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 60 total, averaging 3.0 per year over this window.

2026 0+4 prelim
2025 1
2024 16
2023 9
2022 1
2021 10
2020 6
2019 0
2018 1
2017 3
2016 0
2015 6
2014 0
2013 1
2012 0
2011 1
2010 1
2009 3
2008 1
2007 0

Striped bars mark preliminary reports not yet confirmed by NWS survey — excluded from the confirmed counts.

Preliminary tornado reports near Sycamore since December 29, 2025

These are 4 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.

Preliminary June 24, 2026
3 WSW Huntley, McHenry County, IL
McHenry County EMA reports roof damage to barn along Harmony Road near Brier Hill Road. Video shared to social media shows likely tornado with lofted debris in the vici (LOT)
Preliminary EF1° June 12, 2026
2 NE Wayne, DuPage County, IL
An NWS damage survey confirmed an EF-1 tornado with estimated peak winds of 100 MPH... path length of 3.0 miles... and maximum width of 400 yards impacted Bartlett... c (LOT)
Preliminary June 12, 2026
4 WSW Lee, Lee County, IL
NWS survey confirms a preliminary EF-U tornado. No known damage. Max width 50 yards... and length of 6 miles. (LOT)
Preliminary April 2, 2026
3 SSW Davis Junction, Ogle County, IL
An NWS damage survey confirmed that an EF-0 tornado with estimated peak winds of 85 mph and a path length of 2.71 miles tracked through the community of Holcomb in nort (LOT)

Within 25 miles of Sycamore. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 9
1960s 12
1970s 8
1980s 6
1990s 10
2000s 14
2010s 13
2020s 43

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.

EF0 58
EF1 38
EF2 9
EF4 4
Unrated 6

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 5
Mar 4
Apr 18
May 16
Jun 19
Jul 21
Aug 25
Sep 3
Oct 1
Nov 3
Dec 0

Casualties on Record Near Sycamore

34 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Sycamore since 1950, across 5 events. 688 injuries have been reported across all events. 1967 was the deadliest year on record near Sycamore.

The deadliest single event was an F4 on April 21, 1967, which caused 24 fatalities along a 25.5-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Sycamore

Deadliest Tornado
F4 on April 21, 1967 — 24 fatalities, 25.5 mi path, 1,200 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
EF4 on April 9, 2015 — $19.0M in reported property damage.
Widest Tornado
F4 on April 21, 1967 — 1,200 yards wide.
Longest Path
F2 on August 15, 1958 — 74.5 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on June 3, 2025.

What the record shows near Sycamore

The 2020s are the busiest decade on record so far near Sycamore, with 43 of the 115 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles. The Sycamore record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Sycamore, 96 reached EF0 or EF1 and 13 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Sycamore is rated EF4, of which 4 are logged. A further 6 near Sycamore are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.

Across the last 20 years Sycamore has averaged 3.0 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 60 in total. 2024 was the busiest of them with 16, and 6 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Sycamore, IL had?
Since 1950, 115 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Sycamore. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Sycamore?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Sycamore was an F4 on April 21, 1967, which caused 24 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Sycamore?
August is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Sycamore, with 25 tornadoes on record. Tornadoes can occur any time of year, but spring months (April–June) generally see the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
Has Sycamore been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Sycamore, there have been 0 EF5 and 4 EF4 tornadoes recorded since 1950. EF4 and EF5 tornadoes are the most destructive ratings on the Enhanced Fujita scale, with winds above 166 mph.
When was the most recent tornado near Sycamore?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Sycamore was an EF0 on June 3, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Sycamore?
Vortex delivers real-time tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm alerts, and SPC outlook updates for any US location via push notification and phone call. Alerts are sourced directly from the National Weather Service and updated within seconds of issuance.

Official Resources

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