Tornado History
Putnam Tornado History
This county-level tornado history page focuses on Putnam, Illinois. The records below identify 12 tornadoes from 1965 through 2024, including a highest listed rating of F3 (Severe damage). NOAA damage estimates in this group total at least $9.3M, with 0 deaths and 6 injuries recorded across the listed events.
Free address preview
Were any of these tornadoes close to your property?
Enter a street address in or near Putnam, Illinois to see the number of recorded tornadoes within 5 miles, the nearest track distance, and a property-centered preview.
No account or email required. Full detailed report: $15 one time.
Key Tornado Statistics
Key Tornado Facts for Putnam, Illinois
Top local patterns from the historical tornado records in this group.
Average 0.2 tornadoes per year (0.4/yr in last decade)
April is the peak tornado month with 3 recorded events
Deadliest tornado: F2 in Putnam, Illinois with 0 deaths
2016 was the most active year with 2 tornadoes
The 2010s had the most tornado activity (3 events)
Longest tornado: 66.3 miles in Putnam, Illinois
Widest tornado: 880.0 yards in Putnam, Illinois
Most tornadoes in one day: 2 on Jul 17, 2016
Monthly Distribution
Shows tornado frequency across months of the year, highlighting seasonal patterns and peak tornado periods.
Summary: In Putnam, Illinois, April is the most active month with 3 tornadoes.
Annual Tornado Trend
Shows year-by-year tornado counts, making active years and quiet stretches easier to spot.
Summary: 2016 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 2004 with at least $8.0M 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 Putnam, Illinois.
Measure distance free
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 17, 1972 | F3 | Putnam, Illinois | 66.3 mi | 33 yd | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| April 20, 2004 | F2 | Putnam, Illinois | 6.8 mi | 880 yd | 0 | 5 | $8.0M |
| June 5, 2010 | EF2 | Putnam, Illinois | 8.96 mi | 880 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.0M |
| November 12, 1965 | F2 | Putnam, Illinois | 8.7 mi | 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K |
| September 12, 1974 | F2 | Putnam, Illinois | 0.3 mi | 600 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| April 21, 1967 | F2 | Putnam, Illinois | 0.3 mi | 30 yd | 0 | 1 | $2K |
| February 8, 2024 | EF1 | Putnam, Illinois | 6.38 mi | 100 yd | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| April 13, 1981 | F0 | Putnam, Illinois | 0 mi | 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| June 4, 1999 | F0 | Putnam, Illinois | 0.1 mi | 10 yd | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| July 17, 2016 | EF0 | Putnam, Illinois | 1.19 mi | 25 yd | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| July 17, 2016 | EF0 | Putnam, Illinois | 0.24 mi | 25 yd | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| October 11, 2021 | EFU | Putnam, Illinois | 0.02 mi | 10 yd | 0 | 0 | N/A |
Did any of these records occur near a property you care about?Use an exact street address for a property-centered preview around Putnam, Illinois.
Check a Putnam, Illinois address
Related Location Pages
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.