Tornadoes Kill Two in Indiana and Illinois, Leaving Trail of Destruction

Major storms generated tornadoes that killed at least two people in northwest Indiana and flattened buildings in Kankakee, Illinois, as another bout of rain and strong winds moved through the region. Several intense supercell thunderstorms swept across northern Illinois and northwestern Indiana on Tuesday, including one supercell that unleashed at least four tornadoes, according to the National Weather Service office in Chicago.

Indiana Impact: Lake Village Devastation

Newton County Sheriff Shannon Cothran urged residents to stay away from the hardest-hit areas, stating, “Do not reach here. Do not try to help right now,” in a video update posted Tuesday night while standing in front of a ruined home in Lake Village. Crews rescued individuals trapped in damaged homes and at least 70 utility poles were knocked down, rendering many roads impassable, according to Newton County officials according to the Associated Press.

An elderly couple in Lake Village were killed when a tornado struck their home. Their names have not yet been released.

David Ferris, a Lake Village resident, recounted riding out the storm in his downstairs bathtub with his wife and dogs. While they were unharmed, their home lost power. Ferris, a paramedic in a neighboring county, assisted with rescue efforts and treated those injured, noting the destruction of a local Family Dollar store and a gas station, along with numerous uprooted trees.

Approximately 4,300 customers in Lake Village and surrounding communities were without power late Wednesday morning, down from over 11,000 at the storm’s peak, as reported by Fox 32 Chicago, citing Northern Indiana Public Service Company data.

Illinois Damage: Kankakee County Hit Hard

Kankakee County, Illinois, bore the brunt of one supercell thunderstorm that tracked for 100 miles, eventually crossing into Indiana according to WTTW News. A tornado touched down near the Kankakee fairgrounds and moved northeast into Aroma Park, causing extensive damage, the Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office reported.

The storms in Kankakee also produced hail ranging from three to five inches in diameter. One hailstone, measuring six inches, may have set a new state record, according to the National Weather Service.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker stated, “Keeping in our thoughts all Illinoisans impacted by the severe weather – we’ll be here to help them recover,” as reported by Fox 32 Chicago.

Regional Weather Outlook

Parts of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio remained under a tornado watch on Wednesday morning. The National Weather Service forecasts continued unsettled weather for the region. Greater Kankakee Airport (KIKK) reported fair conditions at 34°F with a wind chill of 28°F as of 10:55 pm CDT on March 11th according to the National Weather Service. The forecast for Kankakee includes sunny conditions on Thursday with a high near 47°F, followed by a chance of showers Thursday night.