Tornado Nightmare: Illinois and Indiana in RUINS

March 12, 2026

A tornado forming under dark storm clouds in an open field

A monstrous 6.0-inch hailstone crashes into Illinois, potentially shattering state records amid tornadoes that claim two lives and demolish homes across two states.

Story Highlights

At least four tornadoes from a single supercell ravaged northern Illinois and northwestern Indiana on March 10, 2026, killing two and injuring others.
Record 6.0-inch hail in Kankakee, Illinois, dwarfs previous 4.75-inch mark, with giant hail up to 5 inches elsewhere.
Homes leveled in Aroma Park, Illinois, and Lake Village, Indiana; power lines down, trees snapped, emergency calls overwhelm 911 centers.
National Weather Service warnings gave advance notice, but Midwest families face tough recovery from this early spring fury.

Storm Timeline and Warnings

National Weather Service issued severe weather forecasts on March 9 at 12:00 p.m. for central Illinois starting late afternoon. Tornado watches covered Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Missouri until 11 p.m. CDT on March 10. Tornado warnings hit Kankakee County from 6:30-7:00 p.m. Multiple supercell thunderstorms then produced tornadoes and giant hail across northern Illinois and northwestern Indiana that evening. Storms reached Champaign-Urbana by March 12 at 2:00 a.m., prompting watch cancellation.

Record Hail and Tornado Devastation

A single persistent supercell generated at least four tornadoes crossing state lines into multiple counties. The same storm dropped a 6.0-inch diameter hailstone in Kankakee, Illinois, unofficial but poised to break the 4.75-inch state record from Minooka in 2015. Hail ranged 3-5 inches in primary zones; a separate Chicago-area supercell produced 2-4 inch hail, largest 4.8 inches in Darien. Two fatalities reported amid widespread destruction.

Multiple homes leveled in Lake Village, Indiana, and Aroma Park, Illinois. Downed power lines and trees blocked roads. A 911 center south of Chicago handled overwhelming calls as search and rescue extended late into March 10-11. Kankakee River Valley, 57 miles south of Chicago, bore the brunt in Kankakee, Livingston counties in Illinois, and Newton, Jasper, Starke in Indiana.

Emergency Response and Official Actions

American Red Cross opened a shelter at Kankakee Community College; North Newton High School served as Indiana support center. National Weather Service survey teams assessed damage March 11 to confirm tornado strength and count. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker pledged recovery aid: “Keeping in our thoughts all Illinoisans impacted—we’ll be here to help them recover.” Newton County Sheriff Shannon Cothran urged: “Please do not come here. Do not try to help right now,” due to active operations.

Tornadoes, record-size hail strike Illinois and Indiana, leaving two dead and widespread damage https://t.co/dorFOv1Q5n

— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) March 11, 2026

Meteorologist Andrew Lyons of the NWS Storm Prediction Center called it a typical early spring strong storm system. Supercells feature persistent deep rotation, explaining the tornado family from one cell. Forecast accuracy allowed shelter-seeking time. Uncertainties remain on exact tornado tally, injury numbers, hail verification, and fatality details, pending surveys. Midwest resilience shines, but communities brace for long rebuilding amid economic hits from property losses and displacements.