Major storms whipped up tornadoes that killed at least two people in northwest Indiana and leveled buildings in Kankakee, Illinois, authorities said Wednesday, as another round of rain, hail and strong winds made its way through the region. […]
In Kankakee, Illinois, the storms also produced exceptionally large hail, ranging from 3 to 5 inches (7.6 to 12.7 centimeters) in diameter. One 6-inch (15.2-centimeter) diameter hailstone may have set a new state record, the weather service said. […]
A tornado touched down near the Kankakee fairgrounds before traveling northeast into the small suburb of Aroma Park, where it caused extensive damage, the Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office said.
In video shared on social media, the twister rips across a field near an airport while vehicles line the road.
“I want to remind area residents to check on their neighbors and loved ones but to avoid unnecessary travel, if at all possible,” Kankakee County Sheriff Mike Downey said in a statement.
* From the city of Kankakee’s Facebook page last night……
The City Administration team gathered early this evening at the Kankakee County Sheriff’s Department with County and State officials, utility companies and many other agencies. Mutual aid from the State of Illinois and 2 neighboring Counties have assisted with operations and responses.
At this time the City of Kankakee is caught up on all emergency calls. There are no deaths, missing persons and fortunately only 7 reported minor injuries.
Earlier this evening a tornado traveled through the southwest portion of the City of Kankakee causing damage to industrial sites and commercial buildings along the Route 45/52 corridor. Additionally, several power lines and poles were severed. The storm proceeded northeast damaging several homes in unincorporated Kankakee along River Road crossing the Kankakee River near Elmwood Drive and Waldron Road. Other areas affected include Aroma Park.
* Whoa…
That was the biggest and potentially most violent tornado I've ever seen. Felt like a Wayne 2013 clone. Aroma Park/Kankakee, Illinois - 3/10/2026 pic.twitter.com/28QpByoX3K
*** Must watch! Kankakee, IL Stovepipe! *** ?️ Massive stovepipe tornado throwing debris everywhere with grapefruit-size hail slamming into the ground! ?? This is an intense video of the damaging tornado that tracked from Kankakee, IL, to Aroma Park, IL, to Lake Village, IN. A… pic.twitter.com/vZ8vNwlPvi
— Chicago & Midwest Storm Chasers (@ChicagoMWeather) March 11, 2026
Massive hail over 5 inches in diameter fell in Kankakee, Illinois, causing severe damage to vehicles and even leaving indentations in the grass. pic.twitter.com/XPCstWFutp
• During the afternoon and evening of March 10, several intense supercell thunderstorms moved across northern Illinois and northwestern Indiana.
o A supercell is a thunderstorm that has persistent and deep rotation.
• One supercell was responsible for a family of tornadoes (at least 4) across Livingston and Kankakee counties in Illinois, and Newton, Jasper, and Starke counties in northwestern Indiana.
o NWS survey crews will be working with emergency management officials today to look at damage to determine the strength of the tornadoes and to confirm the total number of tornadoes that occurred. Survey results will be posted later on as they are finalized.
• A Tornado Watch was in effect before the tornadoes occurred. Based on preliminary reports, Tornado Warnings were also in effect before each tornado occurred. A rare Level 4 out of 5 threat level for tornadoes was issued by the Storm Prediction Center prior to thunderstorms developing.
• The supercell thunderstorms also produced exceptionally large hail. The same storm that produced all of the tornadoes in our area also produced hail ranging in size from 3 to locally 5 inches in diameter. A hailstone with a diameter of 6.0″ was measured in Kankakee, IL.
o This 6.0″ hailstone may be considered for a new Illinois state record hailstone. The previous record was a hailstone measuring 4.75″ in diameter that fell in Minooka in June of 2015.
o There is a process to verify the hailstone, so this report is considered unofficial at this time.
• Another supercell moved across the southern and western Chicago metropolitan area and dropped hail ranging in size from 2 to locally 4 inches in diameter across Bolingbrook, Woodridge, Downers Grove, Westmont, and Darien. The largest hailstone measured in this area was 4.8″ in diameter and occurred in Darien, IL.
* More from Isabel…
* CBS | 2 dead after tornadoes in Kankakee, Illinois and Northwest Indiana overnight; NWS confirms EF-1 in Jasper Co.: Indiana officials confirmed two fatalities and multiple people injured in Lake Village, Indiana, after storms hit the area. Officials said Lake Village was “decimated” by the tornado, which carved a path of destruction 45 to 50 miles long. Newton County, Indiana, Sheriff Shannon Cothran said the people who died were an elderly man and woman from the same family. He said their names could not yet be released as of Wednesday morning.
* WGN | NWS: 4 tornadoes believed to have touched down in Illinois & Indiana overnight: According to the NWS, a supercell that moved from Pontiac, Illinois, to Wheatfield, Indiana, produced four suspected tornadoes on Tuesday night. Residents in Kankakee County are also picking up the pieces on Wednesday morning after a suspected tornado tore through the county on Tuesday night.
The Tribune coverage said the hail was gumball size. I wondered how big they think gumballs are because hail that size doesn’t blow theough windshields and roofs.
The south side of the city was hit hard, near I-57 Exit 309. It then went east doing major damage to Atoma Park before moving on to Indiana.
Reports I’ve heard said that Herschel and Limestone got hail damage but didn’t take a direct hit from the tornado.
Each video with dumber behavior than the one before. Yea, I get it. They’re storm chasers. But people, this isn’t a movie where you know you’re going to be ok. You’re driving awfully close to a tornado with massive hail. My favorite part was where the hail broke the windshield…twice. Before that, the guy started driving again towards the tornado. Mother Nature said, “yo, dude, how dumb are you?”
Wonder if these guys have any insurance for their vehicles. If so, the companies may want to cancel it soon based on these videos.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 1:24 pm:
Anyone know how bad Limestone and Herscher got hit?
I’ve got friends up there.
- Huh? - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 1:37 pm:
The first photo looks like a huge fish mouth getting ready to eat anything in it’s path.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 1:44 pm:
We need need to use other words besides “hail” for chunks of ice bigger than a baseball.
“Gargantuan hail” seems to be popular.
Terminal velocity is 100 mph+ by the way, and the weight is over a pound.
Try to imagine getting beaned by Nolan Ryan, except instead of a 5 oz baseball traveling 100 mph, its a one pound basketball.
Or the baseball is travelling 300 mph, the momentum is the same.
Damn lucky the hail didnt kill someone.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 2:28 pm:
The Tribune coverage said the hail was gumball size. I wondered how big they think gumballs are because hail that size doesn’t blow theough windshields and roofs.
The south side of the city was hit hard, near I-57 Exit 309. It then went east doing major damage to Atoma Park before moving on to Indiana.
Reports I’ve heard said that Herschel and Limestone got hail damage but didn’t take a direct hit from the tornado.
- New Day - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 2:29 pm:
Each video with dumber behavior than the one before. Yea, I get it. They’re storm chasers. But people, this isn’t a movie where you know you’re going to be ok. You’re driving awfully close to a tornado with massive hail. My favorite part was where the hail broke the windshield…twice. Before that, the guy started driving again towards the tornado. Mother Nature said, “yo, dude, how dumb are you?”
Wonder if these guys have any insurance for their vehicles. If so, the companies may want to cancel it soon based on these videos.