Tornadoes in Lake County
The Storm Prediction Center records 23 tornadoes whose paths touched Lake County, Illinois between 1957 and 2024. They killed 8 people and injured 215. The busiest month is April, with 7 tornadoes. The strongest was an F4 on 11 April 1965. The most recent was on 27 February 2024.
- 23tornadoes
- 8deaths
- 215injuries
- 518per 10,000 sq mi of land
A tornado that crossed several counties counts in each one, so county counts add up to more than the state's.
How strong were the tornadoes in Lake County?
| Rating | Tornadoes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| F0 / EF0 | 5 | 22% |
| F1 / EF1 | 10 | 43% |
| F2 / EF2 | 5 | 22% |
| F3 / EF3 | 0 | 0% |
| F4 / EF4 | 3 | 13% |
| F5 / EF5 | 0 | 0% |
| Unknown rating | 0 | 0% |
Lake County tornadoes over time
The 2020s only run to 2024, so that bar is for a shorter period. The record starts in 1950.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 3 |
| 1960s | 4 |
| 1970s | 5 |
| 1980s | 1 |
| 1990s | 3 |
| 2000s | 1 |
| 2010s | 2 |
| 2020s | 4 |
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| Jan | 0 |
| Feb | 1 |
| Mar | 1 |
| Apr | 7 |
| May | 1 |
| Jun | 2 |
| Jul | 3 |
| Aug | 3 |
| Sep | 3 |
| Oct | 1 |
| Nov | 1 |
| Dec | 0 |
Records for Lake County
- Deadliest and Strongest: Crystal Lake, Illinois tornado11 April 1965, F4, 6 deaths, 75 injuries, 9.1 miles long
- Longest path: Illinois tornado8 October 1958, F2, 1 death, 81 miles long
- Most recent: Illinois tornado27 February 2024, EF1, 1 injury, 0.1 miles long
Notable tornadoes in Lake County
- Crystal Lake, Illinois tornado11 April 1965, F4, 6 deaths, 75 injuries, 9.1 miles long
- Carpentersville, Illinois tornado21 April 1967, F4, 1 death, 100 injuries, 8.8 miles long
- Waukegan, Illinois tornado28 September 1972, F4, 20 injuries, 5.2 miles long
Many of these tornadoes killed or injured people. The numbers are the official record's, and they may be revised.