2026 tornado count: Illinois way up, Texas way down
Illinois has already seen more tornado reports than it has in any year since records began, while "tornado alley" states like Texas are lagging behind this year in the annual tornado tally.
A large tornado swirled through Effingham, Illinois, on June 17, as severe storms targeted the Prairie State once again.
Illinois continues to lead the nation in preliminary tornado reports in 2026, surpassing its annual record in June. By the end of July, the state had already broken that new record again.
On June 17, there were 164 tornado reports in Illinois. By July 31, there were 221 tornado reports, according to data from NOAA's Storm Prediction Center (SPC). The increase in tornado count is largely due to tornado outbreaks in March, April and June.
By July's end, Indiana had the second-highest state tornado count in 2026, with 89 tornadoes, less than half of Illinois' total. Mississippi, Missouri and Iowa round out the top 5.
In addition to Illinois, Indiana has also tied its number of confirmed tornadoes, the National Weather Service noted in June. A total of 79 tornadoes have been surveyed in Indiana this year, breaking the record set in 2011.
An unusual year for tornadoes compared to the historical average
This year's tornado trends buck the historical average. Typically, by the end of July, Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas — known as "Tornado Alley" — would be at the top of the charts for tornado reports. Illinois would typically have only 52 reports, 171 fewer than this year. Texas should have more than 100 by this time of year, but it stands at just 58 reports.
“The dynamics this year have favored Illinois, with storms staying to the north of Texas and Oklahoma," AccuWeather Meteorologist Peyton Simmers said. "Additionally, the drought in the western U.S. had sent a lot of warm air aloft across Texas and Oklahoma, which has helped to limit the overall severe weather across the South.”
Five EF3 tornadoes have been reported in Illinois this year. The strongest was one that traveled 35.6 miles with winds as high as 160 mph, causing major damage from Kankakee, Illinois, to Roselawn, Indiana, on March 10.
But the strongest tornado of the year struck Enid, Oklahoma, with 180-mph winds on April 23, 2026. That storm was rated an EF4 at the time.
A home sits reduced to rubble after being hit by yesterday's tornado on March 11, 2026, in Aroma Park, Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
This time last year, Illinois also led the nation, but with 116 tornadoes reported, it was tied with Texas. Oklahoma and Missouri followed.
Other states that are in the top five years for tornado activity are West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. West Virginia has had 10 preliminary reports so far this year. During most years, they go without any tornado reports. Wisconsin has had 51 reports in 2026, more than any year since 2011.
Wind and hail records through end of July
Illinois is also at the top of the chart for high-wind reports, with 793 this year, including automated wind-gust data from weather stations. Runners up include Pennsylvania, Missouri, Kansas and Virginia. For hail, Texas is number one, as it often is, with 468 reports, followed by Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa.
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