Note: This video is from March 19.
ST. LOUIS – This year has, without a doubt, been a whirlwind when it comes to the weather—between the snow, flooding, tornadoes, and more. While we are only halfway through the typical severe weather season in Missouri and Illinois, it has proven to be one to remember.
As of Monday, there have been 78 tornadoes in Missouri and 82 tornadoes in Illinois recorded just in 2025, according to the NWS preliminary tornado survey. If that number sounds high, that’s because it is.
The average number of tornadoes by this time of the year is 18 in Missouri and 17 in Illinois, which is quite lower than what we’ve seen.
The National Weather Service St. Louis Office released a report of the tornado count for their coverage area between Jan. 1 and April 30 for the past five years, which read as follows:
- 2025: 28
- 2024: 16
- 2023: 14
- 2022: 1
- 2021: 2
Out of the total count of tornadoes, 15 of those in Missouri and 10 in Illinois were ranked as an EF2 or higher.
One of the most notable outbreaks this season was when our viewing area saw a total of 14 tornadoes during the afternoon and evening hours of March 14, with nine of those being rated an EF2 or higher.
According to the NWS preliminary tornado summary for this year, there have been 716 tornadoes recorded across the country.