Jefferson County tornado history

33 tornadoes touched Jefferson County, Illinois between 1950 and 2025 — about 0.4 a year. The strongest was rated F4 (Dec 18, 1957). Tornadoes here killed 4 and injured 99 people.

33tornadoes since 1950

F4strongest rating

4killed · 99 injured

112.1 milongest path · 1961

(E)F0(E)F1(E)F2(E)F3(E)F4(E)F5· dots = start point only

By rating

(E)F08

(E)F112

(E)F210

(E)F32

(E)F41

(E)F50

By month

JFMAMJJASOND

Peak month: March.

By decade

’50’60’70’80’90’00’10’20

Strongest tornadoes

Date	Rating	Path	Width	Injured	Killed
Dec 18, 1957	F4	16.8 mi	250 yd	45	1
Apr 21, 2002	F3	31.5 mi	500 yd	42	1
Apr 19, 1996	F3	17 mi	400 yd	0	0
Mar 23, 2012	EF2	2.6 mi	100 yd	2	1
Mar 30, 1982	F2	0.8 mi	100 yd	3	1
Mar 6, 1961	F2	112.1 mi	50 yd	0	0
Mar 14, 1953	F2	42.3 mi	200 yd	0	0
Feb 9, 1960	F2	24 mi	77 yd	1	0
May 25, 2011	EF2	13.5 mi	250 yd	0	0
Dec 18, 1957	F2	11.6 mi	200 yd	0	0
Apr 15, 1998	F2	5.5 mi	250 yd	1	0
Dec 18, 1957	F2	4.5 mi	10 yd	2	0

Most recent tornadoes

Date	Rating	Path	Width	Injured	Killed
Mar 14, 2024	EF1	0.5 mi	150 yd	0	0
Mar 19, 2020	EF1	2.9 mi	300 yd	0	0
Aug 2, 2017	EF0	0.5 mi	40 yd	0	0
Oct 13, 2014	EF1	3.5 mi	100 yd	0	0
Oct 13, 2014	EF1	0.7 mi	50 yd	0	0
Nov 17, 2013	EF1	0.1 mi	25 yd	0	0
Mar 23, 2012	EF2	2.6 mi	100 yd	2	1
May 25, 2011	EF2	13.5 mi	250 yd	0	0
Apr 19, 2011	EF1	4.3 mi	100 yd	0	0
Apr 19, 2011	EF1	1.4 mi	100 yd	0	0
Jun 27, 2010	EF0	0.3 mi	50 yd	0	0
Mar 8, 2009	EF1	2.3 mi	150 yd	0	0

Deadliest: Dec 18, 1957, F4, 1 killed.

Nearby counties

Franklin County, IL21 Marion County, IL38 Hamilton County, IL14 Washington County, IL35 Wayne County, IL30 Perry County, IL25 Clinton County, IL28 Clay County, IL19

Questions

How many tornadoes has Jefferson County, Illinois had?

33 tornadoes touched Jefferson County, Illinois between 1950 and 2025 in the NOAA Storm Prediction Center database — about 0.4 per year.

What was the strongest tornado in Jefferson County?

The strongest rating recorded was F4 on Dec 18, 1957, with a 16.8-mile path and 1 deaths.

When is tornado season in Jefferson County?

Most of its tornadoes happened in March (8 of 33). Tornadoes can occur in any month, so keep alerts on year-round.

Right now: live tornado warnings map · alerts for your location. Dates link to that day’s full storm reports where available (2004 onward).