Putnam County tornado history

12 tornadoes touched Putnam County, Illinois between 1950 and 2025 — about 0.2 a year. The strongest was rated F3 (Apr 20, 2004). Tornadoes here killed 8 and injured 13 people.

12tornadoes since 1950

F3strongest rating

8killed · 13 injured

81.5 milongest path · 1972

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

By rating

(E)F04

(E)F11

(E)F24

(E)F32

(E)F40

(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
Apr 20, 2004	F3	15.8 mi	880 yd	12	8
Jul 17, 1972	F3	81.5 mi	200 yd	0	0
Nov 12, 1965	F2	8.7 mi	50 yd	0	0
Jun 5, 2010	EF2	8 mi	880 yd	0	0
Apr 21, 1967	F2	0.3 mi	30 yd	1	0
Sep 12, 1974	F2	0.3 mi	600 yd	0	0
Feb 8, 2024	EF1	10 mi	100 yd	0	0
Jul 17, 2016	EF0	1.2 mi	25 yd	0	0
Jul 17, 2016	EF0	0.2 mi	25 yd	0	0
Apr 13, 1981	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0	0
Jun 4, 1999	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0	0
Oct 11, 2021	unrated	—	10 yd	0	0

Most recent tornadoes

Date	Rating	Path	Width	Injured	Killed
Feb 8, 2024	EF1	10 mi	100 yd	0	0
Oct 11, 2021	unrated	—	10 yd	0	0
Jul 17, 2016	EF0	1.2 mi	25 yd	0	0
Jul 17, 2016	EF0	0.2 mi	25 yd	0	0
Jun 5, 2010	EF2	8 mi	880 yd	0	0
Apr 20, 2004	F3	15.8 mi	880 yd	12	8
Jun 4, 1999	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0	0
Apr 13, 1981	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0	0
Sep 12, 1974	F2	0.3 mi	600 yd	0	0
Jul 17, 1972	F3	81.5 mi	200 yd	0	0
Apr 21, 1967	F2	0.3 mi	30 yd	1	0
Nov 12, 1965	F2	8.7 mi	50 yd	0	0

Deadliest: Apr 20, 2004, F3, 8 killed.

Nearby counties

Marshall County, IL18 Bureau County, IL47 LaSalle County, IL66 Stark County, IL15 Woodford County, IL54 Peoria County, IL38 Lee County, IL39 Livingston County, IL54

Questions

How many tornadoes has Putnam County, Illinois had?

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

What was the strongest tornado in Putnam County?

The strongest rating recorded was F3 on Apr 20, 2004, with a 15.8-mile path and 8 deaths.

When is tornado season in Putnam County?

Most of its tornadoes happened in April (3 of 12). 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.