Shelby County tornado history

35 tornadoes touched Shelby County, Illinois between 1950 and 2025 — about 0.5 a year. The strongest was rated F3 (Aug 21, 1977). Tornadoes here killed 6 and injured 66 people.

35tornadoes since 1950

F3strongest rating

6killed · 66 injured

117.9 milongest path · 1961

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

By rating

(E)F018

(E)F19

(E)F27

(E)F31

(E)F40

(E)F50

By month

JFMAMJJASOND

Peak month: June.

By decade

’50’60’70’80’90’00’10’20

Strongest tornadoes

Date	Rating	Path	Width	Injured	Killed
Aug 21, 1977	F3	26.9 mi	77 yd	56	6
Dec 10, 2021	EF2	41.5 mi	690 yd	1	0
Feb 20, 2014	EF2	22.4 mi	200 yd	1	0
Dec 10, 2021	EF2	15.9 mi	200 yd	0	0
Jun 1, 1999	F2	15.5 mi	450 yd	4	0
Oct 13, 2014	EF2	10 mi	200 yd	0	0
Jun 2, 1990	F2	8 mi	600 yd	2	0
Oct 6, 1955	F2	1 mi	10 yd	0	0
Mar 6, 1961	F1	117.9 mi	77 yd	1	0
Jun 20, 2000	F1	24 mi	300 yd	1	0
Apr 2, 2006	F1	6 mi	150 yd	0	0
Mar 14, 2025	EF1	5.1 mi	75 yd	0	0

Most recent tornadoes

Date	Rating	Path	Width	Injured
Mar 14, 2025	EF1	5.1 mi	75 yd	0
Mar 14, 2025	EF1	2.3 mi	100 yd	0
Dec 10, 2021	EF2	41.5 mi	690 yd	1
Dec 10, 2021	EF2	15.9 mi	200 yd	0
Aug 12, 2019	EF0	1.9 mi	75 yd	0
Oct 13, 2014	EF2	10 mi	200 yd	0
Feb 20, 2014	EF2	22.4 mi	200 yd	1
Feb 20, 2014	EF0	0.3 mi	50 yd	0
Jun 15, 2011	EF0	0.3 mi	10 yd	0
Jun 15, 2011	EF0	0.3 mi	20 yd	0
May 13, 2009	EF0	0.6 mi	40 yd	0
May 13, 2009	EF0	1.4 mi	50 yd	0

Deadliest: Aug 21, 1977, F3, 6 killed.

Nearby counties

Moultrie County, IL15 Effingham County, IL27 Christian County, IL58 Fayette County, IL27 Cumberland County, IL17 Coles County, IL39 Macon County, IL77 Montgomery County, IL51

Questions

How many tornadoes has Shelby County, Illinois had?

35 tornadoes touched Shelby County, Illinois between 1950 and 2025 in the NOAA Storm Prediction Center database — about 0.5 per year.

What was the strongest tornado in Shelby County?

The strongest rating recorded was F3 on Aug 21, 1977, with a 26.9-mile path and 6 deaths.

When is tornado season in Shelby County?

Most of its tornadoes happened in June (8 of 35). 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).