tornado | Illinois State Climatologist

January 13, 2026January 16, 2026

2025 Was Warm and Dry in Illinois

Illinois was both warmer and wetter than the 1991–2020 normal in 2025. The statewide average annual temperature was 53.6 degrees, 1.0 degree above normal and the 18^th warmest year on record statewide. Statewide average total precipitation in 2025 was 32.94 inches, 7.8 inches below normal and the 23^rd driest year on record statewide.

Summary figure of 2025 weather in Illinois. It was the 18th warmest and 23rd driest year on record in Illinois. Some of the more noteworthy weather events included multiple heavy rain and flooding events in Chicago, a very large dust storm in central and northeast Illinois in May, and the 2nd driest year on record and driest since 1894 in Champaign-Urbana.

Another Very Warm Year in Illinois

The past year was very warm in Illinois, especially outside of climatological winter. March led the way with average temperatures that were over 6 degrees warmer than normal, and July, September, and October were all at least 2 degrees warmer than normal. Meanwhile, January and December were both 2 degrees colder than normal statewide, and below normal temperatures in February, May, and August as well (Figure 1).

**Figure 1**. Plot shows 2025 statewide monthly average temperature (black line) and temperature departures from the 1991–2020 normal (red and blue bars).

Average temperatures in Illinois last year ranged from the high 40s in northern Illinois to the high 50s in southern Illinois, between 1 and 3 degrees above normal (Figure 2). The year 2025 was the 15^th warmest on record in Chicago, and the 20^th warmest on record in Peoria. The warmest point in the state last year was Bean Ridge in Alexander County with an average temperature of 60.5 degrees. The coolest point in the state was Stockton in Jo Daviess County with an average temperature of 48 degrees.

**Figure 2**. Maps show 2025 annual average temperature (left) and average temperature departures from the 1991–2020 normal (right).

Although 2025 was not nearly as warm statewide as 2024, the average temperature in Illinois last year was still well above the 20^th century average. Last year was indeed another data point in a clear warming trend in Illinois, indicative of our changing climate (Figure 3). Models project continued warming in Illinois throughout the rest of this century, as summarized in the 2021 Illinois Climate Assessment and 2023 National Climate Assessment.

**Figure 3**. Illinois statewide annual average temperatures between 1895 and 2025 and the upward trend indicating warming and Illinois’ changing climate. Statewide climate data are available at NOAA’s Climate at a Glance.

Table 1 shows the number of daily weather records broken at Illinois Cooperative Observer stations in each month of 2025. A brief but intense cold spell in February broke 64 daily low maximum temperature records and 36 daily low minimum temperature records. Our very mild, if not warm, March broke 77 daily high maximum temperature and 41 daily high minimum temperature records. Meanwhile, intense June humidity broke to 102 daily high minimum temperature records, and storms in July broke 90 daily precipitation records statewide. Overall, 679 high daily record temperatures were broken last year, 418 low daily record temperatures were broken, and 435 daily precipitation records were broken.

Daily	High Maximum Temperature	High Minimum Temperature	Low Maximum Temperature	Low Minimum Temperature	High Precipitation
January	9	28	27	13	21
February	24	16	64	36	24
March	77	41	0	0	33
April	12	5	3	0	73
May	39	8	32	1	50
June	14	102	2	1	46
July	1	23	4	0	90
August	3	29	24	44	17
September	65	3	6	17	12
October	27	10	0	1	48
November	42	13	5	3	12
December	43	45	69	66	9
Total	356	323	236	182	435

Table 1. Table shows the number of daily local weather records in 2025 by month and variable.

Overall, the statewide average annual temperature was 53.6 degrees, 1.0 degree above normal and the 18th warmest year on record statewide.

2025 Precipitation

Calendar year 2025 was very dry in Illinois, as all but 2 months last year were drier than normal (Figure 4). Only April and July were wetter than normal statewide. Some of the more extreme precipitation months included the 6^th driest August on record statewide (1.74 inches), the 11^th driest September on record (1.36 inches), and the 9^th wettest July on record (6.23 inches).

**Figure 4**. 2025 monthly total precipitation as a departure from the 1991–2020 normal.

As is seemingly a perennial occurrence, June and July brought multiple rounds of extremely heavy rainfall in Illinois. Most of far southern Illinois had 8 to 10 inches of precipitation in June, following an extremely wet late spring in the region. Following the very wet month of June, parts of Fayette County in south-central Illinois experienced more than 12 inches of rain in a single day. Never to be outdone, the Chicagoland was subsequently impacted by extremely heavy rainfall in July, Including over 5 inches of rain in less than 90 minutes around the United Center on the west side.

For the fourth consecutive year Illinois fell back into drought in the late summer and fall as each of the last five months of the year were at least 0.75 inches drier than normal statewide. Total precipitation in August and September statewide was only 3.1 inches, less than 50% of normal and the third driest August to September period on record in Illinois. Once again, the region’s largest rivers approached low stage, including along the Illinois, Mississippi, and Ohio Rivers, causing some moderate challenges to shipping. The dry fall weather was beneficial to harvest, but depleted moisture throughout the soil and caused near-record low flow conditions in several Illinois streams including the Sangamon and Vermilion Rivers. Dry conditions persisted through the rest of fall and into the first month of winter, causing a significant expansion of moderate to extreme drought across Illinois.

Figure 5 shows the spatial variability of 2025 precipitation in more detail. Total precipitation last year ranged from nearly 60 inches in far southern Illinois to less than 30 inches in east-central Illinois. Much of southern and southeast Illinois were 1 to 5 inches wetter than normal in 2025, while most of central and northern Illinois were 1 to 10 inches drier than normal (Figure 5).

**Figure 5**. Maps show (left) total precipitation and (right) precipitation departures in 2025.

A CoCoRaHS citizen science observer in Metropolis in Massac County had 67.09 inches of precipitation in 2025, making the birth of Superman the wettest point in the state for two consecutive years. Meanwhile, two other CoCoRaHS observer in Savoy in Champaign County and White Heath in Piatt County had less than 22 inches of precipitation in 2025. Last year was the 2^nd driest year on record in Champaign-Urbana and the driest since 1894 with only 24.45 inches. 2025 was also a top 10 driest year on record in Peoria and Springfield, and the 12^th driest on record in Quincy.

Overall, Statewide average total precipitation in 2025 was 32.94 inches, 7.8 inches below normal and the 23rd driest year on record statewide.

2025 Severe Weather

Following the most tornadoes on record statewide in 2024, Illinois had another very active severe weather year… at least until July. Overall, the NOAA Storm Prediction Center reported a preliminary 146 tornadoes in 2025, but that total will likely decrease before the official count is released. Figure 6 shows the monthly frequency of tornadoes in 2025 compared to the 1995-2024 averages. March through June had well above average tornado frequency, followed by a large dropoff in tornadoes, and storms more generally, between August and November. It is likely the 2025 tornado total will be adjusted, but irrespective of changes, the year was another extremely active tornado year in Illinois.

**Figure 6**. Plot shows tornado frequency by month in 2025 (blue bars) compared to the 1995-2024 average (red bars).

The NOAA Storm Prediction Center also had 167 severe hail reports and 656 severe wind reports in Illinois in 2025. Some of the wind reports came from strong, non-thunderstorm winds that caused a dust storm in central and northern Illinois, including the city of Chicago in mid-May.

2025 Snowfall

Snowfall in calendar year 2025 was a tale of two very different seasons. As shown in Figure 7, most of the state had 3 to 18 inches below average snowfall between January and May last year, with the exception of a band of snowier weather in southern Illinois. However, multiple rounds of heavy snowfall in November and December gave much of central and northern Illinois 10 to 20 inches above average snowfall, somewhat evening out the lackluster spring snow (Figure 7). Overall, 2025 ended with snowfall deficits between 3 and 10 inches in northern Illinois, and snowfall surpluses between 3 and 15 inches in central and southern Illinois.

**Figure 7**. Maps of snowfall departures from normal across Illinois, showing departures from (left) January through May, (middle) September through December, and (right) the entire year of 2025.

While 2025 didn’t break any snowfall records for the state, it was considerably snowier than recent years. In fact, 2025 was the first year where the statewide average snowfall was above the 1991-2020 normal since 2021, and was the snowiest year in Illinois since 2019 (Figure 8).

**Figure 8**. Illinois statewide average snowfall each year between 1902 and 2025. The blue line shows annual snowfall totals and the red line shows the 5-year moving average ending in each year.

June 7, 2025

Mild May Wraps Up an Otherwise Warm Spring in Illinois

The preliminary statewide average May temperature was 63.0 degrees, 0.2 degrees below the 1991–2020 average and the 58^th warmest on record going back to 1895. The preliminary statewide average total May precipitation was 3.75 inches, 1.02 inches below the 1991–2020 average and the 55th driest on record statewide.

Data are provisional and may change slightly over time

The first four months of 2025 collectively were just under 1 degree warmer than normal statewide. May temperatures likewise varied within 1 degree of normal statewide, with periods of much warmer and much cooler weather during the month (Figure 1). Daily temperatures and temperature departures from normal in Charleston are shown in Figure 1, illustrating the typical temperature variability in May. Temperatures reached into the upper 80s to low 90s statewide around mid-month before dropping to 10-15 degrees below normal a week later.

**Figure 1**. Daily May average temperature departures in Charleston.

May average temperatures ranged from the mid-50s in northern Illinois to the high 60s in southern Illinois, within 1 degree of normal virtually statewide (Figure 2). Several stations saw their first 90+ degree temperatures last month, including a daily record breaking 94 degrees at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport on May 15. Meanwhile, the state was largely spared a late spring freeze in May, with only a handful of stations experiencing temperatures below 40 degrees.

**Figure 2.** Maps of (left) May average temperature and (right) May average temperature departures from normal.

Overall, the preliminary statewide average May temperature was 63.0 degrees, 0.2 degrees below the 1991–2020 average and the 58^th warmest on record.

May capped off a very warm climatological spring season. March temperatures were 4 to 8 degrees above normal and April temperatures were 1 to 3 degrees above normal (Figure 3). Despite the milder May temperatures, the spring season was still a top 10 warmest on record in many places in the Midwest, including in St. Louis, Peoria, and Paducah. In recent years, early spring warmth has pushed spring phenology ahead of normal, increasing the risk of frost or freeze damage to tender perennials and horticultural crops. However, our colder winter this year helped extend dormancy a bit longer, resulting in a timely spring phenology and (hopefully) good fruit and berry crops this year.

**Figure 3**. Maps of monthly average temperature departures from normal in March, April, and May 2025.

Drier May Leading into Summer

May is climatologically the third wettest month in Illinois, and the wettest in parts of southern Illinois. While last month’s precipitation was typically variable across Illinois, May was overall drier in most places. Specifically, total May precipitation ranged from around 2 inches in the Chicagoland area to nearly 8 inches far southern Illinois. Most areas south of Interstate 70 were near to slightly wetter than normal, while most of northern and central Illinois were 1 to 3 inches drier than normal (Figure 4).

**Figure 4**. Maps show (left) total May precipitation and (right) May precipitation departures from normal.

Despite somewhat lackluster May precipitation totals, last month was very active on the severe weather front. The NOAA Storm Prediction Center listed 23 tornado reports, 92 severe wind reports, and 61 severe hail reports in Illinois in May. Among these include an EF-4 tornado in Williamson County, and 2-inch hail in Morgan and Sangamon Counties. Illinois set a new statewide tornado record in 2024, but we are ahead of where we were this time last year on statewide tornadoes, with 105 reports total. In fact, Illinois is tied with Missouri with the highest number of tornado reports to date in 2025.

Overall, climatological spring precipitation ranged from around 6 inches in far northern Illinois to over 20 inches in southern Illinois. The northern half of the state was 1 to 2 inches drier than normal, while southern Illinois was 2 to 8 inches wetter than normal (Figure 5). Last season was the 4^th wettest on record in Salem and the 5^th wettest spring in Centralia.

**Figure 5**. Maps show (left) total spring precipitation and (right) spring precipitation departures from normal.

June & Summer Outlooks

June is the start of climatological summer and is an exciting month for many reasons. Warm weather is here and schools are out. The Climate Prediction Center’s June outlook shows best chances of summer starting a bit on the warm side, with best chance of near normal precipitation and maybe a continued wetter trend in southern Illinois (Figure 6).

**Figure 6**. Climate Prediction Center (left) temperature and (right) precipitation outlooks for June.

The summer season outlooks (June–August) also show higher chances of above normal temperatures this summer. For precipitation, Illinois is squeezed between a band of expected drier than normal conditions to the west and wetter conditions to the east. That setup often, but not always, corresponds with active stormy weather in the summer.

**Figure 7**. Climate Prediction Center (left) temperature and (right) precipitation outlooks for June through August.

May 14, 2015

Rivers Have No Effect on Tornado Tracks

The Kansas City NWS office posted this image showing that rivers have no measurable effect on tornado tracks.

The case for St. Louis reminded me that one of the worst tornado disasters in US history occurred when a tornado tracked through St. Louis, jumped the Mississippi River, and continued doing damage in East St. Louis. That was May 27, 1896. Besides busting the myth about rivers, it busted the myth that tornadoes do not hit major cities. At the time, St. Louis had a population close to 500,000.

The St. Louis Public Library has a great collection of photos and newspaper articles on the event. A total of 255 people were killed in both Illinois and Missouri. It was estimated to be an F-4 tornado on the Fujita scale, based on the damage seen in photographs.

Nine days after the event, a book was published based on newspaper accounts with lots of photos. It has recently been reprinted by Southern Illinois University Press and called “The Great Cyclone at St Louis and East St Louis, May 27, 1896”. Besides the incredible amount of detail on the storm’s damage, you are treated to some vivid and lurid prose (which was the newspaper style of the day).

Example of the damage from the 1896 event.

"St Louis Jefferson-Allen Damage" by http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/historic/nws/wea00256.htm "Photo by Strauss". Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St_Louis_Jefferson-Allen_Damage.jpg#/media/File:St_Louis_Jefferson-Allen_Damage.jpg — Click to enlarge. “St Louis Jefferson-Allen Damage” by http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/historic/nws/wea00256.htm “Photo by Strauss”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons – http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St_Louis_Jefferson-Allen_Damage.jpg#/media/File:St_Louis_Jefferson-Allen_Damage.jpg

April 13, 2015

April EF-4 Tornadoes Rare in Illinois

According to the National Weather Service report on the April 9, 2015, tornadoes, the tornado that tracked through Fairdale was rated EF-4 on the Enhanced Fujita scale. This would be the first EF-4 tornado in April since 1981 for Illinois and only the 33rd in Illinois history, regardless of month, since reliable records began in 1950.

According to the NWS Storm Prediction Center database, only 33 F/EF-4 tornadoes have struck Illinois since 1950. Even more rare, only 8 have hit Illinois in April. Of those eight in April, six struck in the 1960s, one in 1981, and one in 2015:

2 on April 17, 1963 (Olivet tornado)
1 on April 11, 1965 (Palm Sunday outbreak)
3 on April 21, 1967 (Oak Lawn tornado outbreak)
1 on April 3, 1981 (Madison County)
1 on April 9, 2015

Here are all the F/EF-4 tracks for Illinois from 1950-2014, from the MRCC tornado tracker tool. Unfortunately, we cannot screen out just the April events at this time. While this is a screenshot of the tool, the actual tool allows you to zoom in and out. If you point to a track then you get a pop up window with the details of that track. Check out the tornado tracker tool – it’s free.