A tornado struck Jefferson County, Illinois, on Sunday night, resulting in two fatalities, five injuries, and the destruction of three homes, according to the Jefferson County sheriff’s office. The victims, identified as Delores B. Shelton, 83, and Sarita L. Kimble, 62, both from Mount Vernon, died in two single-wide mobile homes that were destroyed during the storm. The five injured individuals were transported to local hospitals with non-life-threatening wounds.

Andy Lesage, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Paducah, Kentucky, which covers Jefferson County and parts of southern Illinois, reported that while approximately six tornado reports were received in the area Sunday, only the Jefferson County tornado was confirmed at that time. Survey teams are continuing to assess the extent of tornado activity in the region.

Further west, Alex Erwin, meteorologist at the NWS office in Lincoln, Illinois, confirmed that two tornadoes had touched down in Cumberland County and one in Shelby County on Sunday, with the possibility of additional confirmations as surveys continue.

Illinois is experiencing a notably intense tornado season this year, having recorded at least 149 tornadoes to date. This figure far exceeds the average annual total of 54 tornadoes in the state from 1990 to 2020. The previous highest annual count of confirmed tornadoes in Illinois was 142 in 2024. By comparison, only 91 tornadoes had been reported by June 22 of last year. Preliminary data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Storm Prediction Center currently places Illinois at the top of the national tornado tally, surpassing traditionally high-risk states in Tornado Alley such as Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Texas.

Meteorologists have yet to determine a definitive cause behind the unprecedented frequency of tornadoes in Illinois this year. Some experts suggest that climate change may be partially responsible, as increased emissions of greenhouse gases contribute to higher humidity levels in the Midwest atmosphere, creating conditions more favorable for severe thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes.

In response to the recent storms, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin addressed the issue of federal disaster aid during a speech on the Senate floor, urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the administration to set aside political differences. Durbin highlighted the difficulties Illinois has faced in securing federal disaster relief in past events and emphasized the urgent need for assistance for families affected by the tornado outbreaks.