National Storms

Christopher, IL tornado history

22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of the center of Christopher, IL from 1950 through 2025, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, ranking 275th of 441 Illinois cities with a tornado on record. 3 were rated F3/EF3 or stronger by the National Weather Service. The most recent was on December 5, 2021 (EF1, 3.9-mile path); the strongest, on February 28, 2017, was rated EF4. The deadliest, on December 18, 1957, killed 11 along its path.

22tornadoes since 1950
32016–2025
F4/EF4strongest rating
12deaths
226injuries
Dec 5, 2021most recent
Rating: 012345 unknown or preliminaryLines run from the start to the end point of each path; dots mark where each tornado touched down.

Dashed circle: 10 miles from the city's Census center point. A tornado counts when its recorded path passes inside the circle. Paths run straight from start to end point, as SPC records them.

1950s: 21960s: 21970s: 11980s: 01990s: 22000s: 42010s: 102020s: 11950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020smax 10
Tornadoes within 10 miles of the center of Christopher, IL, by decade

Source: National Storms (nationalstorms.com), CC BY 4.0, data from NOAA Storm Prediction Center storm reports.

Every tornado within 10 miles of the center of Christopher, IL

DateRatingPath lengthDeaths / injuriesStarted inClosest to center
Dec 5, 2021EF13.9 mi0 / 0Franklin County, IL6.7 mi
Feb 28, 2017EF453.5 mi1 / 12Perry County, MO → IL1.7 mi
May 11, 2016EF00.1 mi0 / 0Franklin County, IL2.6 mi
Jun 19, 2015EF00.1 mi0 / 0Perry County, IL9.5 mi
Jun 19, 2015EF10.9 mi0 / 0Franklin County, IL7.2 mi
Jan 29, 2013EF00.6 mi0 / 0Franklin County, IL2.8 mi
Mar 23, 2012EF17.5 mi0 / 0Jackson County, IL7.2 mi
Jun 18, 2011EF13.2 mi0 / 1Perry County, IL7.9 mi
Apr 19, 2011EF10.1 mi0 / 0Franklin County, IL7.6 mi
Apr 19, 2011EF10.3 mi0 / 0Franklin County, IL8.7 mi
Apr 19, 2011EF03.9 mi0 / 0Jackson County, IL9.0 mi
Jun 8, 2009EF14.8 mi0 / 0Perry County, IL4.8 mi
May 8, 2009EF00.3 mi0 / 0Franklin County, IL6.3 mi
Nov 10, 2002F00.5 mi0 / 0Franklin County, IL5.5 mi
Nov 10, 2002F09.0 mi0 / 0Jackson County, IL6.5 mi
Apr 19, 1996F12.5 mi0 / 0Perry County, IL4.2 mi
Apr 26, 1994F11.0 mi0 / 1Franklin County, IL8.8 mi
May 7, 1973F20.1 mi0 / 0Perry County, IL9.9 mi
Mar 5, 1961F2112.1 mi0 / 0Perry County, MO → IL7.4 mi
Feb 9, 1960F224.0 mi0 / 1Franklin County, IL2.9 mi
Apr 5, 1958F320.6 mi0 / 11Jackson County, IL6.5 mi
Dec 18, 1957F428.3 mi11 / 200Jackson County, IL6.5 mi

More: Franklin County tornadoes · Illinois tornado history · Christopher hail history · Illinois damaging wind

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (SPC) Severe Weather Database (SVRGIS) tornado file, 1950–2025, and SPC preliminary storm reports for 2026 (data through November 6, 2026). Ratings are the ones the National Weather Service assigned: Fujita (F) scale before Feb 1, 2007, Enhanced Fujita (EF) after. Paths are drawn as straight lines from the start to the end point SPC records; real paths curve. City and county boundaries: US Census Bureau.

NWS Damage Survey Paths Near Christopher

The National Weather Service mapped the path of 4 tornadoes within 10 miles of Christopher in damage surveys (1 EF4, 2 EF1, 1 EF0). On the map, those paths follow the survey, colored by the EF rating of each stretch, instead of a straight line from start to end.

DateRatingPeak windPath lengthMax widthDeaths / injuriesOn the groundSurveyed by
Dec 5, 2021EF195 mph4.6 mi175 yd0 / 004:21–04:28 UTCNWS Paducah
Feb 28, 2017EF4180 mph50.4 mi1,056 yd0 / 001:55–02:57 UTCNWS LSX,
Jun 19, 2015EF0–0.1 mi30 yd0 / 023:01 UTCNWS Paducah
Jun 19, 2015EF1110 mph0.8 mi150 yd0 / 021:51–21:53 UTCNWS Paducah

Source: NOAA National Weather Service Damage Assessment Toolkit (DAT): the tornado paths and EF-rating zones NWS survey teams mapped after each storm. Survey data are preliminary and can be revised; NOAA's official record is Storm Data (NCEI). Paths are simplified to about 30 m. Times are when the tornado was on the ground, in UTC.