Illinois has already seen more tornado reports than it has in any year since records began, while “tornado alley” states like Texas are lagging behind this year in the annual tornado tally.<\/p>\n
Published Jul 31, 2026 12:47 PM EDT\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
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Updated Jul 31, 2026 3:38 PM EDT\n\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\tA large tornado swirled through Effingham, Illinois, on June 17, as severe storms targeted the Prairie State once again.\n\t<\/p>\n
\n\tIllinois<\/a> continues to lead the nation in preliminary tornado reports in 2026, surpassing its annual record in June. By the end of July, the state had already broken that new record again.\n<\/p>\n \n\tOn June 17, there were 164 tornado reports in Illinois. By July 31, there were 221 tornado reports, according to data from NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center (SPC)<\/a>. The increase in tornado count is largely due to tornado outbreaks in March, April and June.\n<\/p>\n \n\tBy July’s end, Indiana had the second-highest state tornado count in 2026, with 89 tornadoes, less than half of Illinois’ total. Mississippi, Missouri and Iowa round out the top 5.\n<\/p>\n \n\tIn addition to Illinois, Indiana has also tied its number of confirmed tornadoes, the National Weather Service noted in June. A total of 79 tornadoes have been surveyed in Indiana this year,\u00a0breaking the record set in 2011.\n<\/p>\n \n\tThis year’s tornado trends buck the historical average. Typically, by the end of July, Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas \u2014 known as “Tornado Alley” \u2014 would be at the top of the charts for tornado reports. Illinois would typically have only 52 reports, 171 fewer than this year. Texas should have more than 100 by this time of year, but it stands at just 58 reports.\n<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cThe dynamics this year have favored Illinois, with storms staying to the north of Texas and Oklahoma,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Peyton Simmers said. “Additionally, the drought in the western U.S. had sent a lot of warm air aloft across Texas and Oklahoma, which has helped to limit the overall severe weather across the South.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n\tFive EF3 tornadoes have been reported in Illinois this year. The strongest was one that traveled 35.6 miles with winds as high as 160 mph, causing major damage from Kankakee, Illinois<\/a>, to Roselawn, Indiana, on March 10.\n<\/p>\n