THE ILLINOIS STATE CLIMATOLOGIST SAYS DECEMBER TORNADOS ARE UNCOMMON, BUT NOT RARE.
THERE HAVE BEEN ABOUT 96 TORNADOS OCCURRING IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER IN ILLINOIS BETWEEN 1950 AND 2020, SO THEY DO HAPPEN SAYS STATE CLIMATOLOGIST TRENT FORD.
FORD SAYS THAT’S LIKELY BECAUSE PEOPLE AREN’T AS ALERT FOR TORNADOS IN THE WINTER, AND TORNADOS ARE HARDER TO SEE SINCE IT GETS DARK SO EARLY. THE LAST BIG DECEMBER TORNADOS IN ILLINOIS WERE IN 2018 AND 2015.
FORD SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN ABOUT 96 DECEMBER TORNADOS REPORTED IN ILLINOIS FROM 1950 TO 2020.