© 2024 WSIU Public Broadcasting
WSIU Public Broadcasting
Member-Supported Public Media from Southern Illinois University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Illinois Ranks #4 For Tornado Reports In 2015

NOAA

According to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, Illinois ranks fourth in the nation in the number of tornado reports in 2015.Jenna Dooley speaks with Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel about tornado activity

Is this surprising news?

Credit NOAA

State climatologist Jim Angel says Illinois is usually in the top ten, but this ranking is a bit high compared to previous years at this time.

Northern Illinois experienced and EF-4 in April. That’s out of 64 reports.

Angel says that severity is rare. He says what is also unusual this year is that there have been more reports from the northern and southern parts of the state. He says central Illinois is typically more prone to twisters.

Here are the top five states:

Texas with 164 reports

Kansas with 150 reports

Oklahoma with 100 reports

Illinois with 64 reports

Colorado with 48 reports

According to NOAA, the most outstanding event for 2015 was the April 9 outbreak that produced 11 tornadoes, and caused two deaths in Fairdale.

Copyright 2015 WNIJ Northern Public Radio

Jenna Dooley has spent her professional career in public radio. She is a graduate of Northern Illinois University and the Public Affairs Reporting Program at the University of Illinois - Springfield. She returned to Northern Public Radio in DeKalb after several years hosting Morning Edition at WUIS-FM in Springfield. She is a former "Newsfinder of the Year" fromthe Illinois Associated Press andrecipient of NIU's Donald R. Grubb Journalism Alumni Award. She is an active member of the Illinois News Broadcasters Association and an adjunct instructor at NIU.
As a WSIU donor, you don’t simply watch or listen to public media programs, you are a partner. By making a gift, you help WSIU produce, purchase, and broadcast programs you care about and enjoy – every day of the year.