Washington, IL Tornado History — 164 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Washington, IL had?
Washington has had 164 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 8 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Washington?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Washington was an EF1 on December 28, 2025.
When is tornado season in Washington?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Washington, with 41 on record. April through June account for 94 of the 164 tornadoes on record near Washington.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Washington
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 54 total, averaging 2.7 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Washington since December 29, 2025
These are 10 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
Video evidence of a tornado in a farm field 2-3 miles southeast of Toluca. No damage was observed or reported. (ILX)
Received video confirmation of a landspout. (ILX)
(ILX)
Social media photos showing large tornado in progress. (ILX)
EF1... peak wind speed 110 mph... path length 10.3 miles. This tornado touched down on the far west side of Normal... IL and damaged several metal buildings. As it move (ILX)
EF1... peak wind speed 90 mph... path length 1 mile... path width 200 yds. This tornado briefly touched down and did minor tree damage and blew a portion of the roof of (ILX)
EF0... max wind speed 85 mph... path length 8.4 mi. The tornado touched down on the northwest side of Morton just north of the interchange of I-155 and I-74... where it (ILX)
EF1... peak wind speed 100 mph... path length 0.52 miles... path width 80 yds. The tornado touched down about 2 miles southwest of Washburn in a field just north of Cou (ILX)
EF1... max wind speed 90 mph... path length 6.3 miles. The tornado touched down just southwest of Powerton Lake... and moved along the south side of the lake... before (ILX)
(ILX)
Within 25 miles of Washington. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Washington
3 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Washington and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on April 20, 2025 and the most recent on December 28, 2025. They are already counted in the Washington totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.
An EF1 tornado with wind speeds up to 98 mph touched down along Allentown road about 3 miles east of Pekin High School and traveled about 1.75 miles along that road. It (ILX)
EF-U tornado. A video shows a brief touchdown for about 45 seconds. No damage was observed or reported. (ILX)
The tornado affected mainly rural areas of Tazewell County where it produced EF-1 damage to trees... outbuildings and power poles... with peak winds of 90 mph. It reach (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 Washington
3 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Washington since 1950, across 1 event. 238 injuries have been reported across all events. 2013 was the deadliest year on record near Washington.
The deadliest single event was an EF4 on November 17, 2013, which caused 3 fatalities along a 46.4-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Washington
What the record shows near Washington
The 1990s were the busiest decade near Washington, with 34 of the 164 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 23 so far. The Washington record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Washington, 123 reached EF0 or EF1 and 33 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Washington is rated EF4, of which 3 are logged. A further 8 near Washington are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Washington has averaged 2.7 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 54 in total. 2024 was the busiest of them with 10, and 5 of those years passed with none at all.