We can finally start thinking about putting tornado season in Illinois behind us. Of course, Mother Nature doesn’t pay much attention to the calendar, so while our peak tornado season is winding down, we’re certainly not out of the woods just yet.
According to the Illinois State Climatologist, Illinois had recorded 210 tornadoes by the beginning of September. That’s not a typo, and it’s a staggering number for a state that averages about 54 tornadoes a year.
The previous annual record for Illinois was 142 tornadoes, set in 2024. So we’ve blown past that mark by a considerable margin, and the year isn’t even over yet.
Here’s How Unusual This Weather Has Been In 2026
Consider that Illinois’ 210 tornadoes were more than the combined totals for Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Minnesota at the end of August. That’s right, we’re talking about all seven states combined…