New Tornado Alley?: IL Tops Nation in Twister Reports In 2026

ACROSS ILLINOIS — A surge in severe weather has pushed Illinois to the top of the nation’s tornado reports this year, raising questions about whether the state is becoming part of a shifting “Tornado Alley.”

As of mid-April, the state has recorded 111 tornado reports, double Mississippi’s 46, which ranks second nationwide, according to the latest data from AccuWeather, which was provided to Patch on Tuesday.

Illinois is also topping national totals for hail and wind reports, with more than 147 hail reports and 245 high wind reports so far this year.

AccuWeather meteorologists say the pattern is unusual compared to historical norms, as Texas typically leads in hail reports and Mississippi and Alabama see the highest tornado counts through mid-April based on more than a decade of data.

Meteorologist Alex DaSilva told Patch the active weather pattern is being driven in part by a jet stream positioned over the Midwest.

“The jet stream brings a lot of energy along with it, and it’s that energy that can allow severe thunderstorms to form,” DaSilva said. “The other major factor is water temperatures in the Gulf.”

He said warmer Gulf waters are feeding moisture northward, helping fuel stronger storm development.

Over the past two years, the U.S. has seen a gradual eastward shift in tornado activity compared to the traditional “Tornado Alley,” which historically includes parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska.

"I think its too early to say for 100 percent certainty if this is a trend that will continue for years to come, but it is certainly a concerning trend for areas further east of the traditional 'Tornado Alley,'" DaSilva said.

Illinois has seen multiple rounds of damaging tornado activity in 2026, including a deadly outbreak in March that killed one person in Kankakee County and an elderly couple in Lake Village, Indiana.

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A major April 17 severe weather outbreak also produced widespread damage across northern Illinois, including confirmed tornado touchdowns and damaged structures and trees. In total, the April outbreak alone generated more than a dozen tornado reports across the state, with storm surveys still confirming additional twisters days later.

• At Least 14 Tornadoes Confirmed In IL After Friday's Storms