Pope County tornado history

14 tornadoes touched Pope County, Illinois between 1950 and 2025 — about 0.2 a year. The strongest was rated F4 (May 6, 2003). Tornadoes here killed 8 and injured 70 people.

14tornadoes since 1950

F4strongest rating

8killed · 70 injured

42.5 milongest path · 2013

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

By rating

(E)F02

(E)F14

(E)F24

(E)F33

(E)F41

(E)F50

By month

JFMAMJJASOND

Peak month: April.

By decade

’50’60’70’80’90’00’10’20

Strongest tornadoes

Date	Rating	Path	Width	Injured	Killed
May 6, 2003	F4	33 mi	1,000 yd	33	2
Nov 17, 2013	EF3	42.5 mi	500 yd	34	3
Apr 21, 1972	F3	0.3 mi	60 yd	0	3
Apr 28, 2002	F3	22 mi	200 yd	1	0
Oct 18, 2004	F2	14 mi	300 yd	0	0
Apr 2, 2025	EF2	12 mi	150 yd	0	0
Jan 22, 1999	F2	1.5 mi	150 yd	0	0
Oct 3, 1990	F2	1 mi	100 yd	0	0
Sep 22, 2006	F1	9.3 mi	500 yd	0	0
Jun 23, 2019	EF1	2.8 mi	120 yd	0	0
May 4, 2003	F1	2.2 mi	50 yd	0	0
Apr 21, 1972	F1	0.1 mi	10 yd	2	0

Most recent tornadoes

Date	Rating	Path	Width	Injured	Killed
Apr 2, 2025	EF2	12 mi	150 yd	0	0
Jun 23, 2019	EF1	2.8 mi	120 yd	0	0
May 10, 2016	EF0	0.1 mi	20 yd	0	0
Nov 17, 2013	EF3	42.5 mi	500 yd	34	3
Sep 22, 2006	F1	9.3 mi	500 yd	0	0
Oct 18, 2004	F2	14 mi	300 yd	0	0
May 6, 2003	F4	33 mi	1,000 yd	33	2
May 4, 2003	F1	2.2 mi	50 yd	0	0
Apr 28, 2002	F3	22 mi	200 yd	1	0
Jan 22, 1999	F2	1.5 mi	150 yd	0	0
Oct 3, 1990	F2	1 mi	100 yd	0	0
May 15, 1986	F0	0.2 mi	10 yd	0	0

Deadliest: Apr 21, 1972, F3, 3 killed.

Nearby counties

Massac County, IL18 Hardin County, IL5 Livingston County, KY13 Johnson County, IL20 Saline County, IL19 Crittenden County, KY12 McCracken County, KY30 Gallatin County, IL14

Questions

How many tornadoes has Pope County, Illinois had?

14 tornadoes touched Pope County, Illinois between 1950 and 2025 in the NOAA Storm Prediction Center database — about 0.2 per year.

What was the strongest tornado in Pope County?

The strongest rating recorded was F4 on May 6, 2003, with a 33-mile path and 2 deaths.

When is tornado season in Pope County?

Most of its tornadoes happened in April (4 of 14). 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).