Madison County tornado history

65 tornadoes touched Madison County, Illinois between 1950 and 2025 — about 0.9 a year. The strongest was rated F4 (Feb 10, 1959). Tornadoes here killed 34 and injured 485 people.

65tornadoes since 1950

F4strongest rating

34killed · 485 injured

48.7 milongest path · 1959

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

By rating

(E)F022

(E)F121

(E)F211

(E)F37

(E)F43

(E)F50

unrated1

By month

JFMAMJJASOND

Peak month: April.

By decade

’50’60’70’80’90’00’10’20

Strongest tornadoes

Date	Rating	Path	Width	Injured	Killed
Feb 10, 1959	F4	23.9 mi	200 yd	345	21
Apr 22, 2011	EF4	21.3 mi	880 yd	5	0
Apr 3, 1981	F4	11.9 mi	567 yd	32	0
Dec 10, 2021	EF3	4.2 mi	300 yd	1	6
Dec 2, 1950	F3	18 mi	200 yd	25	2
May 1, 1983	F3	16 mi	1,000 yd	3	0
May 31, 2013	EF3	10.6 mi	150 yd	0	0
Jan 3, 1950	F3	9.5 mi	150 yd	3	0
Nov 15, 1988	F3	9 mi	200 yd	0	0
Jul 28, 1976	F3	0.1 mi	10 yd	0	0
May 16, 2025	EF2	23.2 mi	1,750 yd	38	4
Dec 2, 1950	F2	18.8 mi	50 yd	3	1

Most recent tornadoes

Date	Rating	Path	Width	Injured	Killed
May 16, 2025	EF2	23.2 mi	1,750 yd	38	4
Mar 14, 2025	EF2	11 mi	1,320 yd	0	0
Mar 14, 2025	EF1	6.8 mi	450 yd	0	0
Apr 18, 2024	EF0	0.9 mi	100 yd	0	0
Apr 18, 2024	EF1	3.1 mi	75 yd	0	0
Apr 18, 2024	EF0	0.3 mi	75 yd	0	0
Apr 18, 2024	EF0	4.4 mi	100 yd	0	0
Apr 15, 2023	unrated	0.2 mi	25 yd	0	0
Dec 10, 2021	EF3	4.2 mi	300 yd	1	6
Mar 27, 2021	EF1	5.3 mi	700 yd	0	0
Feb 20, 2014	EF1	12.3 mi	50 yd	0	0
May 31, 2013	EF3	10.6 mi	150 yd	0	0

Deadliest: Feb 10, 1959, F4, 21 killed.

Nearby counties

St. Louis city, MO7 St. Clair County, IL61 Bond County, IL24 Clinton County, IL28 Jersey County, IL21 Macoupin County, IL49 St. Louis County, MO57 Montgomery County, IL51

Questions

How many tornadoes has Madison County, Illinois had?

65 tornadoes touched Madison County, Illinois between 1950 and 2025 in the NOAA Storm Prediction Center database — about 0.9 per year.

What was the strongest tornado in Madison County?

The strongest rating recorded was F4 on Feb 10, 1959, with a 23.9-mile path and 21 deaths.

When is tornado season in Madison County?

Most of its tornadoes happened in April (16 of 65). 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).