Illinois sets US state record for most tornadoes in a year
While Tornado Alley states have languished this year, tornado numbers are up in the Midwest, with Illinois setting a new national record.
A possible tornado was seen looming on the horizon in Bureau County, west of Chicago, on Aug. 21.
A state outside of the traditional Tornado Alley has set a new severe weather record.
Illinois has had 243 preliminary tornado reports so far in 2026, exceeding the counts of any state for a full calendar year, dating back to 1950, according to Storm Prediction Center (SPC) data.
Preliminary records have been kept since 2004; the previous record was 229 tornadoes in Texas in 2015. SPC won't issue final numbers for this year until 2027. Those numbers will take into consideration years back to 1950.
The preliminary Illinois tornado count for this year includes five EF3 tornadoes on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, with the most powerful being the Kankakee-Roselawn tornado, which brought 160-mph winds, was on the ground for 35.6 miles, and killed three people on March 10. The other EF3s were the Washburn, Long Point-Streator, Effingham and Dix tornadoes.
So far in 2026, there have been 1,395 preliminary reports across the United States, above the historical average of 1,162. Another state that has seen more tornadoes than usual this year is Indiana, which currently ranks first in a list of the state's preliminary tornado reports with 94. Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are also in their top 5 tornado years.
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. This year, Texas has had only 60 preliminary tornado reports, the second-lowest year for the state since preliminary reports began in 2004.
"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."
Multiple tornadoes touched down in Illinois on Apr. 3, 2026. (AccuWeather)
The strongest tornado of the year struck Enid, Oklahoma, an EF4 with 180-mph winds that devastated the town on April 23, 2026.
For other severe weather reports this year, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Virginia lead the pack for wind reports, with 925-955 wind reports in 2026, while Kansas and Texas rank at the top for hail reports, with between 472-474.
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