Peoria Braces as Illinois Tornado Count Approaches All-Time Record
Peoria faced severe weather with a tornado watch and widespread power outages as Illinois approaches its all-time tornado record of 142. Preliminary data shows 165 tornado reports through June 18, 2026.
A City in the Crosshairs
Peoria faced a Level 4 Moderate Risk severe weather alert on Wednesday, June 17, as a new round of storms swept through central Illinois. The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for dozens of counties, including Peoria, with the greatest threats landing south of the city near Springfield, Lincoln, and Decatur.
The storms brought immediate disruption to Peoria residents. As of Wednesday morning, 949 people in Peoria County were without power, according to Ameren. Neighboring counties fared worse. Woodford County reported 3,000 customers without electricity. Knox County had more than 1,200 people experiencing outages.
Local businesses closed early or shut down entirely for the day. Casa De Arte at 1227 SW Adams St. and Lou’s Drive-In at 4229 N. Knoxville Ave. both closed. Intuition Coffee + Juice at 734 Main St. shut its doors at 1 p.m. The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory at 4700 N. University St. and Tropical Sno at 3725 W. Willow Knolls Drive also closed for the day.
A Record-Breaking Year
The Wednesday storms were part of a larger pattern that has Illinois on track to shatter its all-time tornado record. According to the Chicago Tribune, preliminary data shows 165 tornado reports in Illinois through June 18, 2026. That number already exceeds the state’s previous annual record of 142 set in 2024.
“The update for Illinois is, we just keep getting nailed by tornadoes,” said Trent Ford, the state climatologist, during a monthly meeting with regional climatologists.
Illinois averaged 54 tornadoes annually between 1990 and 2020. The last four years have seen triple-digit tallies: 121 in 2023, 142 in 2024, and 126 in 2025. Before that stretch, the state had only four years on record with over 100 tornadoes.
The Human Cost
The storms that hit Peoria on Wednesday followed a major outbreak on June 11, which produced 20 tornadoes across northern Illinois and northwest Indiana. The National Weather Service briefly declared a tornado emergency near Peoria during that earlier event, an alert reserved for large, potentially destructive tornadoes on the ground.
In central Illinois, the aftermath included damaged homes and downed trees. In the small town of Blue Mound, a tornado ripped parts of the local elementary school’s roof off and knocked down trees. One tree landed on the home of Bill and Susan Deetz, damaging the roof and chimney.
“You could hear the wind and the roar at the same time, and I looked at Susan, and I said, ‘This is not good,’” Bill Deetz said. “Then, all here you heard this big crashing of the tree landing on the roof.”
Deetz said roads were closed on both sides of his home, trapping residents inside. He and his neighbors remained without power, though he said no one was hurt.
What Comes Next
The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch for the Peoria area, warning that rainfall totals could exceed 2 inches in a short period. The greatest risk of flash flooding was south of Peoria and west of Bloomington.
Alex Erwin, a meteorologist with the NWS in Lincoln, warned that the storms pushed east at 50 to 60 mph, limiting response time for residents.
“Really the best thing you can do is just review your severe weather safety plan,” Erwin said. “Make sure you would know where you would go if a warning was issued for your area, whether you’re at work or at home. You want to identify those safe locations in advance.”
Ford said climate change may be increasing tornado frequency in the Midwest, as warmer temperatures saturate the air with humidity. However, he noted that climate change alone does not explain the sudden doubling of tornado numbers in Illinois over the last four years.
“If we say it’s just random weather variability, well, that can explain one crazy frequent tornado year, but not four in a row,” Ford said.
The Peoria area faces continued monitoring as field surveys wrap up and reports from Wednesday’s storms are confirmed.
Key Facts
- 165 preliminary tornado reports in Illinois through June 18, 2026
- 142 was the previous annual record, set in 2024
- 949 people in Peoria County lost power on Wednesday
- 3,000 people in Woodford County lost power
- Level 4 Moderate Risk severe weather alert issued for central Illinois
- 2 inches of rain possible in a short period, triggering flash flood watch
Sources
- Peoria weather Wednesday included tornado watch, extreme conditions, Peoria Journal Star
- Severe Weather Alert Day: Tornado outbreak expected Wednesday, Central Illinois Proud
- More severe storms expected in Central Illinois Wednesday, WGLT
- Only halfway through the year, Illinois’ tornado tally closes in on record of 142, Chicago Tribune
- June 10-11, 2026 Severe Weather, National Weather Service