Tornadoes · United States · Illinois
Tornadoes in Madison County, Illinois
70 tornadoes have crossed Madison County since 1950, 3 of them surveyed so far this year and still preliminary, 13th of the 102 counties in Illinois with a tornado on record, an average of one every 1.1 years. They have killed 34 people and injured 488. 3 were 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
- 70
- Deaths
- 34
- Injuries
- 488
- F4 and above
- 3
- Worst on record
- F4, February 10, 1959
The deadliest in Madison County
- F4 St. Louis tornado, Missouri and IllinoisFebruary 10, 1959
- EF3 Edwardsville tornado, IllinoisDecember 10, 2021
- EF2, Saint Louis, City of Saint Louis and Madison counties, Missouri and IllinoisMay 16, 2025
- F3, Madison and Bond counties, IllinoisDecember 2, 1950
- F2, Madison and Macoupin counties, IllinoisDecember 2, 1950
The strongest
- F4 St. Louis tornado, Missouri and IllinoisFebruary 10, 1959
- EF4 St. Louis tornado, Missouri and IllinoisApril 22, 2011
- F4, Madison County, IllinoisApril 3, 1981
- F3, Madison and Bond counties, IllinoisDecember 2, 1950
- F3, City of Saint Louis and Madison counties, Missouri and IllinoisMay 1, 1983
- EF3, Madison and Saint Louis counties, Missouri and IllinoisMay 31, 2013
- F3, Saint Louis and Madison counties, Missouri and IllinoisJanuary 3, 1950
- F3, Saint Clair and Madison counties, IllinoisNovember 15, 1988
- EF3 Edwardsville tornado, IllinoisDecember 10, 2021
- F3, Madison County, IllinoisJuly 28, 1976
Every year with a tornado
The 33 years of the 76 in the record with a tornado in Madison County. Each year links to every tornado in Illinois that year.
| Year | Tornadoes | Deaths | Injuries | Strongest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 1 | EF1 | |
| 2025 | 3 | 4 | 38 | EF2 |
| 2024 | 4 | EF1 | ||
| 2023 | 1 | Unrated | ||
| 2021 | 2 | 6 | 1 | EF3 |
| 2014 | 1 | EF1 | ||
| 2013 | 2 | 2 | EF3 | |
| 2012 | 1 | EF0 | ||
| 2011 | 7 | 6 | EF4 | |
| 2007 | 1 | EF0 | ||
| 2006 | 6 | F1 | ||
| 2004 | 3 | F1 | ||
| 2001 | 2 | 1 | F1 | |
| 1999 | 2 | 1 | F1 | |
| 1998 | 3 | 4 | F1 | |
| 1993 | 1 | F0 | ||
| 1990 | 1 | F1 | ||
| 1988 | 1 | F3 | ||
| 1984 | 1 | F0 | ||
| 1983 | 1 | 3 | F3 | |
| 1981 | 2 | 32 | F4 | |
| 1978 | 1 | F1 | ||
| 1976 | 1 | F3 | ||
| 1974 | 1 | F0 | ||
| 1973 | 2 | F2 | ||
| 1970 | 1 | F1 | ||
| 1967 | 2 | F1 | ||
| 1960 | 4 | 19 | F2 | |
| 1959 | 2 | 21 | 345 | F4 |
| 1958 | 3 | 1 | F2 | |
| 1957 | 1 | 1 | F2 | |
| 1955 | 1 | 2 | F1 | |
| 1950 | 3 | 3 | 31 | F3 |
Every tornado that crossed Madison County
70 tornadoes, newest first. 9 of them touched down in a neighboring state and ran in, so the record files them under that state rather than Illinois. The 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 11, 2026 | 3:50 AM CDT | EF1 | Madison | 1.6 | 0 | 1 | ||
| March 11, 2026 | 4:08 AM CDT | EF1 | Madison | 1.6 | 10 | |||
| April 27, 2026 | 1:41 PM CDT | EF0 | Madison | 0.3 | 25 | |||
| May 16, 2025 | 2:39 PM CDT | EF2 | Saint Louis to IL | 23.2 | 1,750 | 4 | 38 | $1.6 billion |
| March 14, 2025 | 10:28 PM CDT | EF1 | Saint Clair | 6.8 | 450 | $170,000 | ||
| March 14, 2025 | 9:38 PM CDT | EF2 | Saint Louis to IL | 11.0 | 1,320 | $1.1 million | ||
| April 18, 2024 | 6:13 PM CDT | EF0 | Madison | 4.4 | 100 | $10,000 | ||
| April 18, 2024 | 6:09 PM CDT | EF0 | Madison | 0.3 | 75 | $5,000 | ||
| April 18, 2024 | 5:57 PM CDT | EF1 | Madison | 3.1 | 75 | $100,000 | ||
| April 18, 2024 | 5:52 PM CDT | EF0 | Madison | 0.9 | 100 | |||
| April 15, 2023 | 7:01 PM CDT | Unrated | Madison | 0.2 | 25 | |||
| December 10, 2021 | 8:27 PM CST | EF3 | Edwardsville tornado | 4.2 | 300 | 6 | 1 | $5.0 million |
| March 27, 2021 | 7:08 PM CDT | EF1 | Madison | 5.3 | 700 | |||
| February 20, 2014 | 3:57 PM CST | EF1 | Bond | 12.3 | 50 | |||
| May 31, 2013 | 8:27 PM CDT | EF1 | Nowata to MO, IL | 4.8 | 350 | 2 | $75,000 | |
| May 31, 2013 | 8:27 PM CDT | EF3 | Madison to IL | 10.6 | 150 | |||
| August 31, 2012 | 2:50 PM CDT | EF0 | Madison | 0.2 | 50 | |||
| April 22, 2011 | 8:55 PM CDT | EF2 | Madison | 18.2 | 700 | |||
| April 22, 2011 | 7:59 PM CDT | EF1 | McClain to MO, IL | 0.2 | 30 | $5,000 | ||
| April 22, 2011 | 7:59 PM CDT | EF4 | St. Louis tornado | 21.3 | 880 | 5 | $250 million | |
| February 27, 2011 | 11:45 PM CST | EF2 | Madison | 2.7 | 200 | 1 | ||
| February 27, 2011 | 11:42 PM CST | EF1 | Madison | 2.0 | 50 | |||
| February 27, 2011 | 11:39 PM CST | EF1 | Madison | 2.4 | 150 | |||
| February 27, 2011 | 11:35 PM CST | EF1 | Madison | 3.3 | 100 | |||
| May 4, 2007 | 5:50 PM CDT | EF0 | Madison | 0.0 | 40 | |||
| July 21, 2006 | 11:38 AM CDT | F0 | Madison | 5.5 | 50 | |||
| July 21, 2006 | 11:37 AM CDT | F0 | Madison | 4.0 | 50 | |||
| July 19, 2006 | 7:25 PM CDT | F0 | Madison | 0.2 | 20 | |||
| May 24, 2006 | 5:10 PM CDT | F0 | Madison | 0.2 | 50 | $20,000 | ||
| April 2, 2006 | 5:30 PM CDT | F1 | Madison | 2.0 | 100 | |||
| April 2, 2006 | 5:21 PM CDT | F0 | Madison | 16.0 | 50 | |||
| August 24, 2004 | 2:15 PM CDT | F0 | Madison | 1.2 | 50 | |||
| July 5, 2004 | 8:42 PM CDT | F0 | Madison | 0.1 | 40 | |||
| May 30, 2004 | 4:05 PM CDT | F1 | Madison | 2.0 | 70 | |||
| May 31, 2001 | 3:08 PM CDT | F0 | Madison | 0.2 | 50 | $50,000 | ||
| April 10, 2001 | 9:35 PM CDT | F1 | Madison | 2.0 | 100 | 1 | $5.0 million | |
| April 8, 1999 | 10:18 PM CDT | F1 | Madison | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| February 27, 1999 | 12:05 PM CST | F0 | Madison | 0.2 | 50 | |||
| June 14, 1998 | 6:15 PM CDT | F1 | Bond | 5.5 | 150 | 4 | ||
| June 14, 1998 | 6:10 PM CDT | F0 | Madison | 1.0 | 100 | |||
| April 13, 1998 | 6:05 PM CDT | F1 | Madison | 9.5 | 80 | $800,000 | ||
| June 8, 1993 | 5:30 PM CDT | F0 | Madison | 0.4 | 30 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| May 12, 1990 | 5:45 PM CDT | F1 | Bond | 6.0 | 100 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| November 15, 1988 | 10:28 PM CST | F3 | Saint Clair | 9.0 | 200 | $500,000 to $5 million | ||
| April 3, 1984 | 5:35 PM CST | F0 | Madison | 0.1 | 10 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| May 1, 1983 | 8:20 PM CDT | F3 | City of Saint Louis to IL | 16.0 | 1,000 | 3 | $5 million to $50 million | |
| April 22, 1981 | 5:56 PM CST | F0 | Madison | 5.6 | 50 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| April 3, 1981 | 10:50 PM CST | F4 | Madison | 11.9 | 567 | 32 | $5 million to $50 million | |
| April 10, 1978 | 1:30 PM CST | F1 | Madison | 0.5 | 100 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| July 28, 1976 | 5:45 PM CDT | F3 | Madison | 0.1 | 10 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| August 10, 1974 | 2:25 PM CDT | F0 | Madison | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| July 29, 1973 | 11:30 PM CDT | F2 | Madison | 0.1 | 10 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| June 17, 1973 | 1:00 AM CDT | F0 | Madison | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| June 14, 1970 | 6:35 PM CDT | F1 | Madison | 1.5 | 50 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| June 20, 1967 | 5:15 PM GMT-5 | F1 | Madison | 0.8 | 20 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| May 16, 1967 | 5:30 PM GMT-5 | F1 | Madison | 0.5 | 20 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| June 30, 1960 | 2:00 AM GMT-5 | F2 | Madison | 16.9 | 10 | 17 | $500,000 to $5 million | |
| June 22, 1960 | 8:30 PM GMT-5 | F0 | Madison | 0.1 | 10 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| June 16, 1960 | 3:00 PM GMT-5 | F0 | Madison | 0.1 | 10 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| February 9, 1960 | 8:35 PM GMT-6 | F1 | Madison | 0.1 | 10 | 2 | $50,000 to $500,000 | |
| October 10, 1959 | 6:15 PM GMT-5 | F2 | Madison | 48.7 | 33 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| February 10, 1959 | 1:40 AM GMT-6 | F4 | St. Louis tornado | 23.9 | 200 | 21 | 345 | $5 million to $50 million |
| June 1, 1958 | 1:30 AM GMT-5 | F2 | Madison | 0.5 | 100 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| May 3, 1958 | 4:30 PM GMT-5 | F2 | Madison | 4.7 | 10 | 1 | $5,000 to $50,000 | |
| May 3, 1958 | 4:00 PM GMT-5 | F1 | Madison | 1.0 | 10 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| December 18, 1957 | 3:20 PM GMT-6 | F2 | Madison | 1.0 | 10 | 1 | $5,000 to $50,000 | |
| October 6, 1955 | 5:45 PM GMT-5 | F1 | Saint Clair | 15.0 | 50 | 2 | $50,000 to $500,000 | |
| December 2, 1950 | 4:00 PM GMT-6 | F3 | Madison | 18.0 | 200 | 2 | 25 | $500,000 to $5 million |
| December 2, 1950 | 3:00 PM GMT-6 | F2 | Madison | 18.8 | 50 | 1 | 3 | $5,000 to $50,000 |
| January 3, 1950 | 11:00 AM GMT-6 | F3 | Saint Louis to IL | 9.5 | 150 | 3 | $500,000 to $5 million |
Nearby
Warnings in force in Madison CountyThe forecast for Madison CountyThe live radar over Madison 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.