Tornadoes · United States · Illinois
Tornadoes in LaSalle County, Illinois
73 tornadoes have crossed LaSalle County since 1950, 7 of them surveyed so far this year and still preliminary, 11th of the 102 counties in Illinois with a tornado on record, an average of one every 1.0 years. They have killed 13 people and injured 186. 1 was rated F4 or EF4 and above.
The rating scale
Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The United States rated tornadoes on Ted Fujita’s F scale until 31 January 2007 and on the Enhanced Fujita scale after it. Both run from 0 to 5, and both rate the damage rather than measure the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.
F0 / EF040 to 72 mph on the F scale, 65 to 85 mph on the EF scale
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
F1 / EF173 to 112 mph on the F scale, 86 to 110 mph on the EF scale
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
F2 / EF2113 to 157 mph on the F scale, 111 to 135 mph on the EF scale
Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.
F3 / EF3158 to 206 mph on the F scale, 136 to 165 mph on the EF scale
Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.
F4 / EF4207 to 260 mph on the F scale, 166 to 200 mph on the EF scale
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
F5 / EF5261 to 318 mph on the F scale, over 200 mph on the EF scale
Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.
Unrated
The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.
Now
- Tornadoes
- 73
- Deaths
- 13
- Injuries
- 186
- F4 and above
- 1
- Worst on record
- EF4, November 17, 2013
The deadliest in LaSalle County
The strongest
- EF4 Washington–Roanoke tornado, IllinoisNovember 17, 2013
- EF3, Marshall, Woodford and LaSalle counties, IllinoisFebruary 28, 2017
- F3, Putnam and LaSalle counties, IllinoisApril 20, 2004
- EF3, Livingston and LaSalle counties, IllinoisJune 11, 2026
- EF3, LaSalle County, IllinoisFebruary 28, 2017
- F3, LaSalle County, IllinoisJune 30, 1977
- F2, LaSalle, Livingston and Grundy counties, IllinoisNovember 12, 1965
- F2, Livingston, LaSalle and Grundy counties, IllinoisDecember 3, 1955
- EF2, Marshall and LaSalle counties, IllinoisJune 5, 2010
- F2, LaSalle County, IllinoisApril 20, 2004
Every year with a tornado
The 36 years of the 76 in the record with a tornado in LaSalle County. Each year links to every tornado in Illinois that year.
| Year | Tornadoes | Deaths | Injuries | Strongest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7 | 7 | EF3 | |
| 2024 | 2 | Unrated | ||
| 2023 | 2 | Unrated | ||
| 2021 | 1 | Unrated | ||
| 2020 | 1 | EF1 | ||
| 2018 | 1 | EF0 | ||
| 2017 | 5 | 2 | 14 | EF3 |
| 2016 | 8 | EF2 | ||
| 2015 | 3 | EF1 | ||
| 2014 | 1 | EF1 | ||
| 2013 | 2 | 3 | 125 | EF4 |
| 2010 | 4 | 17 | EF2 | |
| 2006 | 1 | F0 | ||
| 2004 | 4 | 8 | 12 | F3 |
| 2003 | 2 | F0 | ||
| 2000 | 1 | F0 | ||
| 1997 | 1 | F0 | ||
| 1996 | 1 | F1 | ||
| 1995 | 1 | F0 | ||
| 1991 | 2 | F1 | ||
| 1988 | 1 | 2 | F1 | |
| 1987 | 1 | F2 | ||
| 1986 | 1 | F1 | ||
| 1985 | 1 | 8 | F2 | |
| 1984 | 1 | F1 | ||
| 1978 | 2 | F2 | ||
| 1977 | 2 | F3 | ||
| 1975 | 1 | F2 | ||
| 1974 | 2 | F2 | ||
| 1972 | 2 | 1 | F1 | |
| 1965 | 2 | F2 | ||
| 1961 | 2 | F1 | ||
| 1960 | 1 | F1 | ||
| 1959 | 1 | F2 | ||
| 1956 | 2 | F1 | ||
| 1955 | 1 | F2 |
Every tornado that crossed LaSalle County
73 tornadoes, newest first. The 7 at the top are this year's, from the surveying office rather than SPC's published database, and their ratings are marked as preliminary.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 17, 2026 | 8:14 PM CDT | EF1 | Bureau | 17.6 | 300 | |||
| June 11, 2026 | 5:31 PM CDT | EF1 | LaSalle | 4.4 | 500 | |||
| June 11, 2026 | 5:32 PM CDT | EF3 | Livingston | 11.9 | 600 | 7 | ||
| June 11, 2026 | 5:58 PM CDT | Unrated | LaSalle | 0.3 | 100 | |||
| August 9, 2026 | 11:16 PM CDT | EF1 | LaSalle | 4.8 | 500 | |||
| August 9, 2026 | 11:29 PM CDT | EF0 | LaSalle | 5.1 | 300 | |||
| August 9, 2026 | 11:35 PM CDT | EF1 | LaSalle | 8.5 | 650 | |||
| July 14, 2024 | 12:03 AM CDT | Unrated | Livingston | 3.9 | 100 | |||
| July 14, 2024 | 12:02 AM CDT | Unrated | LaSalle | 4.2 | 150 | |||
| July 28, 2023 | 10:25 PM CDT | Unrated | LaSalle | 1.7 | 20 | |||
| May 7, 2023 | 7:09 PM CDT | Unrated | LaSalle | 0.1 | 25 | |||
| October 11, 2021 | 6:30 PM CDT | Unrated | LaSalle | 0.4 | 40 | |||
| August 10, 2020 | 2:59 PM CDT | EF1 | LaSalle | 0.9 | 150 | |||
| May 30, 2018 | 7:30 PM CDT | EF0 | LaSalle | 0.9 | 30 | |||
| February 28, 2017 | 5:52 PM CST | EF2 | Livingston | 5.6 | 75 | |||
| February 28, 2017 | 5:26 PM CST | EF3 | Marshall | 17.8 | 600 | $2.0 million | ||
| February 28, 2017 | 4:58 PM CST | EF1 | LaSalle | 2.8 | 200 | |||
| February 28, 2017 | 4:41 PM CST | EF3 | LaSalle | 11.5 | 800 | 2 | 14 | |
| February 28, 2017 | 4:27 PM CST | EF0 | LaSalle | 1.8 | 50 | |||
| June 22, 2016 | 8:53 PM CDT | EF2 | LaSalle | 8.1 | 300 | |||
| June 22, 2016 | 8:48 PM CDT | EF1 | LaSalle | 4.5 | 100 | |||
| June 22, 2016 | 8:32 PM CDT | EF1 | LaSalle | 0.5 | 50 | |||
| June 22, 2016 | 8:22 PM CDT | EF1 | LaSalle | 1.7 | 250 | |||
| June 22, 2016 | 8:11 PM CDT | EF1 | LaSalle | 0.5 | 50 | |||
| June 22, 2016 | 8:02 PM CDT | EF1 | LaSalle | 1.4 | 250 | |||
| June 22, 2016 | 7:59 PM CDT | EF0 | LaSalle | 0.3 | 75 | |||
| June 22, 2016 | 7:59 PM CDT | EF1 | LaSalle | 4.3 | 400 | |||
| June 22, 2015 | 9:17 PM CDT | EF1 | Grundy | 7.0 | 150 | $50,000 | ||
| June 22, 2015 | 8:50 PM CDT | EF1 | LaSalle | 6.0 | 150 | $100,000 | ||
| June 22, 2015 | 8:19 PM CDT | EF1 | LaSalle | 1.5 | 150 | $100,000 | ||
| June 30, 2014 | 9:16 PM CDT | EF1 | LaSalle | 1.5 | 50 | $250,000 | ||
| November 17, 2013 | 10:59 AM CST | EF4 | Washington–Roanoke tornado | 46.4 | 880 | 3 | 125 | $935 million |
| September 1, 2013 | 6:42 PM CDT | EF0 | LaSalle | 1.6 | 50 | |||
| June 5, 2010 | 8:50 PM CDT | EF0 | LaSalle | 0.1 | 20 | |||
| June 5, 2010 | 8:34 PM CDT | EF2 | Marshall | 17.6 | 800 | 17 | $7.0 million | |
| June 5, 2010 | 8:32 PM CDT | EF0 | LaSalle | 0.2 | 50 | |||
| June 5, 2010 | 8:28 PM CDT | EF0 | LaSalle | 1.3 | 30 | $5,000 | ||
| April 14, 2006 | 6:33 PM CDT | F0 | LaSalle | 0.5 | 25 | |||
| April 20, 2004 | 6:50 PM CDT | F0 | LaSalle | 2.0 | 20 | |||
| April 20, 2004 | 6:33 PM CDT | F1 | LaSalle | 1.5 | 30 | |||
| April 20, 2004 | 6:10 PM CDT | F2 | LaSalle | 9.0 | 400 | |||
| April 20, 2004 | 5:44 PM CDT | F3 | Putnam | 15.8 | 880 | 8 | 12 | $8.0 million |
| May 30, 2003 | 7:35 PM CDT | F0 | Kendall | 2.5 | 100 | |||
| May 30, 2003 | 7:16 PM CDT | F0 | LaSalle | 0.5 | 50 | |||
| May 18, 2000 | 5:05 PM CDT | F0 | LaSalle | 3.0 | 100 | |||
| June 11, 1997 | 1:45 PM CDT | F0 | LaSalle | 1.0 | 30 | |||
| April 19, 1996 | 5:40 PM CDT | F1 | LaSalle | 0.5 | 50 | |||
| August 9, 1995 | 3:50 PM CDT | F0 | LaSalle | 0.2 | 20 | |||
| May 25, 1991 | 3:30 PM CDT | F0 | LaSalle | 0.1 | 50 | |||
| April 29, 1991 | 7:20 PM CDT | F1 | LaSalle | 10.0 | 100 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| May 8, 1988 | 6:20 PM CDT | F1 | LaSalle | 0.5 | 50 | 2 | $50,000 to $500,000 | |
| August 16, 1987 | 10:15 PM CDT | F2 | LaSalle | 1.0 | 10 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| September 29, 1986 | 1:55 PM CDT | F1 | LaSalle | 1.0 | 10 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| July 9, 1985 | 8:30 PM CDT | F2 | LaSalle | 0.5 | 167 | 8 | $50,000 to $500,000 | |
| April 29, 1984 | 11:45 PM CDT | F1 | LaSalle | 0.1 | 10 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| June 25, 1978 | 2:30 PM CDT | F2 | LaSalle | 0.9 | 300 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| June 25, 1978 | 11:00 AM CDT | F1 | LaSalle | 0.1 | 50 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| June 30, 1977 | 9:35 AM CDT | F0 | LaSalle | 3.6 | 177 | |||
| June 30, 1977 | 9:35 AM CDT | F3 | LaSalle | 6.1 | 850 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| June 14, 1975 | 3:35 PM CDT | F2 | LaSalle | 1.0 | 167 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| September 12, 1974 | 4:34 PM CDT | F2 | LaSalle | 0.1 | 10 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| July 1, 1974 | 10:44 PM CDT | F0 | LaSalle | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| August 23, 1972 | 1:00 PM CDT | F1 | LaSalle | 0.1 | 10 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| July 14, 1972 | 12:00 AM CDT | F0 | LaSalle | 0.1 | 10 | 1 | $500 to $5,000 | |
| November 12, 1965 | 3:55 PM GMT-6 | F2 | Putnam | 8.7 | 50 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| November 12, 1965 | 2:05 PM GMT-6 | F2 | LaSalle | 32.1 | 17 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| September 30, 1961 | 1:30 PM GMT-5 | F1 | LaSalle | 2.3 | 10 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| July 21, 1961 | 5:15 PM GMT-5 | F0 | LaSalle | 2.0 | 10 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| June 4, 1960 | 7:00 PM GMT-5 | F1 | LaSalle | 0.1 | 10 | $50 to $500 | ||
| September 26, 1959 | 5:50 PM GMT-5 | F2 | LaSalle | 5.1 | 10 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| April 27, 1956 | 7:40 PM GMT-6 | F1 | Bureau | 14.4 | 500 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| April 27, 1956 | 7:20 PM GMT-6 | F1 | Bureau | 14.4 | 500 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| December 3, 1955 | 8:00 PM GMT-6 | F2 | Livingston | 32.0 | 10 | under $50 |
Nearby
Warnings in force in LaSalle CountyThe forecast for LaSalle CountyThe live radar over LaSalle CountyEvery county in Illinois
What this means
Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. Tornado counts rise through the record as reporting improved, so a year in the 1950s is not comparable with one today except for the strongest tornadoes, which were always noticed.
Sources
NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.