Illinois set a dubious record this year: 213 tornadoes so far, according to the National Weather Service office in Lincoln. That's the most ever recorded in the state. The previous record, set just two years ago, was 142.

The surge is the subject of this year's State of Change special from Illinois Public Media, and three of the people behind it join us. Meteorologist Andrew Pritchard says better radar and smartphone cameras explain only part of the jump; 2026 brought more tornadoes, and stronger ones. And while Tornado Alley still sees the most tornadoes, they've been declining there since the late 1970s and increasing in states like Illinois.

We also hear about recovery in Danville and Effingham, take calls from listeners dealing with storm damage and insurance, and get a refresher on tornado watches, warnings and where to turn for reliable information.

It’s been a wild couple weeks for severe weather in Illinois. We’ll talk with reporters who’ve covered the aftermath of storms in Effingham and Charleston. We’ll also hear from an organization that’s been scrambling to place dozens of dogs and cats with foster homes after a tornado tore the roof off an animal shelter in Springfield.

Then, the bigger picture with a group of climate scientists. Illinois has had a record number of tornadoes this year, and the figure is still growing. They'll talk about what's behind that, and whether it's our new normal.
 

Abigail Bottar joined Illinois Public Media in early March 2026 as our Agriculture/Environmental reporter after six years at Ideastream Public Media in Ohio.