Tornado History
Salem Tornado History
This location page summarizes tornado records that list Salem, Illinois as a begin or end location. The dataset includes 4 matching records from 1996 through 2023. The strongest matching rating is F2 (Considerable damage), the latest matching tornado is March 31, 2023, and minimum reported property damage totals $9.1M.
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Key Tornado Statistics
Key Tornado Facts for Salem, Illinois
Top local patterns from the historical tornado records in this group.
Average 0.1 tornadoes per year (0.1/yr in last decade)
April is the peak tornado month with 2 recorded events
Deadliest tornado: F2 in Salem, Illinois with 0 deaths
1996 was the most active year with 2 tornadoes
The 1990s had the most tornado activity (2 events)
Longest tornado: 20 miles in Salem, Illinois
Widest tornado: 250.0 yards in Salem, Illinois
Most tornadoes in one day: 2 on Apr 19, 1996
Monthly Distribution
Shows tornado frequency across months of the year, highlighting seasonal patterns and peak tornado periods.
Summary: In Salem, Illinois, April is the most active month with 2 tornadoes.
Annual Tornado Trend
Shows year-by-year tornado counts, making active years and quiet stretches easier to spot.
Summary: 1996 was the most active year with 2 recorded tornadoes.
Property Damage Trends
Visualizes reported property damage over time. Bars use a log-like scale so very large damage years do not flatten the rest of the chart.
Summary: The highest reported property damage year in this group is 1996 with at least $7.1M in NOAA-listed property damage.
Historical Track Sketch
This map covers the wider location—not your exact property.Measure the closest recorded track to a street address in or near Salem, Illinois.
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Notable Tornado Records
The table highlights the strongest and most damaging records in this page's local dataset. Damage totals are NOAA-reported minimum estimates where available.
| Date | Rating | Area | Length | Width | Deaths | Injuries | Min. property damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 19, 1996 | F2 | Marion, Illinois | 20 mi | 150 yd | 0 | 7 | $7.0M |
| March 31, 2023 | EF1 | Marion, Illinois | 5.95 mi | 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.0M |
| April 19, 1996 | F1 | Marion, Illinois | 3 mi | 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $70K |
| November 15, 2005 | F1 | Marion, Illinois | 5 mi | 100 yd | 0 | 0 | N/A |
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Source And Limits
Data sourced from NOAA Storm Prediction Center and the NCEI Storm Events Database. TornadoTrace summarizes reported weather events for screening and research; it is not a damage assessment, inspection, or insurance determination. Coordinates and records can be approximate, incomplete, revised, or missing. No warranty of completeness or accuracy.