Most Tornadoes In The US: IL Has Most Twisters So Far For 2023

ILLINOIS — Scorching heat, wildfire-induced poor air quality and severe storms — Illinois has had it all this month. And now, Illinois is also the state with the most recorded tornadoes for the year — so far.

There have been 97 tornadoes confirmed across the state this year, USA Today is reporting — a big increase from the Illinois average of 54 tornadoes per year.

While that number encompasses severe weather across the entire state, the National Weather Service said earlier this month that the Chicago area had 44 tornadoes since the start of the year — compared with the 30-year average of 12 tornadoes.

On July 12 alone, the Chicago area saw a total of 13 tornadoes, and another tornado touched down two days later in Warrenville.

Storms, along with flooding and tornadoes, in the Chicago area and in other parts of the state prompted Gov. J.B. Pritzker to issue — and extend — a disaster proclamation for numerous Illinois county earlier this month: Coles, Cook, Edgar, Hancock, McDonough, Morgan, Sangamon, Washington, Calhoun, Christian, Clark, Cumberland, DeWitt, Douglas, Logan, Macon, Monroe, Moultrie, Pike, Scott and Vermillion Counties.

Is Illinois' severe weather getting worse?

While 97 tornadoes is a lot, it's not a record for Illinois.

Illinois' highest number of recorded tornadoes as 144 in a single year in 2006. Other years with high numbers of tornadoes include 2003 with 136 tornadoes, 1998 with 105 tornadoes and 1974 with 111 tornadoes.

Last year, the state reported 39 tornadoes, and in 2021, it saw 82 tornadoes.

Tornadoes aren't unusual for Illinois, but are more frequent between April and June.

But this year, Illinois began experiencing severe weather earlier than usual, with tornadoes in January, February and March, AccuWeather chief meteorologist and senior vice president Jonathan Porter told USA Today.

"We had all of the unusual tornadoes during the winter that really started adding up the numbers pretty quick," Porter said.

Tornadoes spawned from severe storms on March 31 claimed four lives in Illinois, including a man who was killed with the roof was torn off a concert venue in Belvidere, Illinois.

Illinois also early tornadoes in December 2021, when six people were killed at an Amazon warehouse in Illinois as it was struck by a tornado.

As the end of summer approaches, Porter warned that there's still plenty of time for more severe weather in Illinois, adding that it could be a record year for tornadoes in the state.

In fact, one of the deadliest tornadoes Illinois has ever seen struck in August. On Aug. 28, 1990, a devastating tornado struck Plainfield, also affecting Oswego, Joliet and Crest Hill. It's the only F5 tornado ever recorded in the Chicago area.

Related: Remembering The Plainfield Tornado

The tornado killed 29 people and injured more than 350 others.

According to the Ready Illinois, here's how you can be prepared for severe weather:

• Review your Family Emergency Plan with your family so everyone knows what they should do.
  • Emergency Planning - English Version
  • Emergency Planning - Spanish Version
• Stock your Emergency Kit fully and make sure your family knows where it is. Be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least three days (72 hours).
  • Disaster Kit - English Version
  • Disaster Kit - Spanish Version
• Establish a safe zone in your home and place of work (preferably in the basement or in a small interior room or hallway). Make sure everyone knows where to go for shelter.
• Have a National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio (a special radio that provides around-the-clock weather information) or an AM/FM radio in your house that everyone knows how to use. Make sure your radio is battery-operable and you have a fresh supply of batteries on hand.
• Monitor weather forecasts before you go on a trip or spend an extended period of time outdoors.

Know the signs of a possible tornado:

• A dark, often greenish sky.
• A wall cloud, particularly if it is rotating.
• Large hail, which is often produced by the same storms that produce tornadoes.
• A loud roar, similar to the sound of a freight train.
• Tornadoes may occur and be visible near the trailing edge of a thunderstorm.
• Tornadoes may also be embedded in rain and not visible.

During a tornado watch:

• Listen to a battery-powered NOAA Weather Radio or your local radio or television stations for updated information.
• Be alert to rapidly-changing weather conditions. Watch for signs of a possible tornado.
• Know where your family members are. Use this opportunity to review your Family Emergency Plan. Even if a tornado does not strike, there is still the likelihood of severe weather conditions.

If you hear a warning siren, immediately seek shelter and tune in to a local radio or television station.