Kankakee Tornado and Lake Village Indiana Tornado: 2 Dead, State of Emergency Filed, NWS Surveys Damage — Latest Update March 11, 2026
Two people are dead and entire communities are cleaning up Wednesday after a violent severe weather outbreak sent multiple tornadoes tearing through Kankakee, Illinois and Lake Village, Indiana late Tuesday evening. The National Weather Service has confirmed at least one tornado and is actively surveying the damage path for additional touchdowns across a 50-mile corridor.
What the Kankakee Tornado Did Tuesday Night
Shortly after 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, rotation was observed just northwest of Shebance, Illinois, and a tornado went on to touch down around the Kankakee County Fairgrounds. The tornado then traveled toward the Kankakee Public Safety Center and the Jerome Combs Detention Center, both of which were damaged, though minimally.
Aroma Park, located in Kankakee County, woke up Wednesday to the most severe damage in the area, and the zone around the South Kankakee exit suffered the worst destruction overall. At least seven people sustained non-life-threatening injuries in Kankakee County, and no fatalities were recorded in Illinois.
Kankakee County Sheriff Mike Downey, Kankakee County Board Chairman Matthew Alexander-Hildebrand, and Kankakee Mayor Chris Curtis filed an emergency declaration with the State of Illinois requesting disaster assistance.
Lake Village Indiana Tornado: 2 Dead, Town Called "Decimated"
Indiana officials confirmed two fatalities and multiple injuries in Lake Village, Indiana. Newton County Sheriff Shannon Cothran identified the deceased as an elderly man and woman from the same family, whose names had not yet been released as of Wednesday morning.
More than 250 first responders from neighboring counties rushed into Lake Village late Tuesday night to begin rescue efforts, working in complete darkness as power outages knocked out lighting across the area. Crews discovered a man alive inside a vehicle with trees fallen all around him, shielded in what rescuers described as a miraculous escape.
Officials said the Lake Village tornado carved a path of destruction 45 to 50 miles long, and the town was described as "decimated." The homes of four local firefighters in Lake Village were among the damaged properties.
Knox Indiana Tornado Emergency and Wheatfield Confirmed EF-1
The National Weather Service confirmed a tornado touchdown near Wheatfield, Indiana, with peak winds reaching 110 mph — classified as EF-1 intensity. The same supercell tracked from Pontiac, Illinois all the way to Wheatfield and continued toward Knox, Indiana, prompting a tornado emergency declaration for the area.
The NWS said a single supercell thunderstorm spawned at least four tornadoes, with confirmed touchdowns in Pontiac, Illinois, Lake Village, Indiana, and Wheatfield, Indiana. Survey crews were deployed Wednesday to assess damage in Kankakee County in Illinois and Newton and Jasper counties in Indiana.
Record Hail in Kankakee Illinois and Widespread Power Outages
The supercell produced hail ranging from 2 to 4 inches in diameter from Pontiac to the Illinois-Indiana state line. A 6-inch diameter hailstone was documented in Kankakee, potentially setting a new state record for Illinois. A second separate supercell produced hailstones measuring up to 4.8 inches in Darien, Illinois.
ComEd reported roughly 27,000 customers impacted by the storm, with power restored to all but about 4,000 customers by 5:00 a.m. ET Wednesday, mainly in Kankakee County. In Newton County, an estimated 70 utility poles were downed, leaving more than 2,500 NIPSCO customers without electricity.
Tornado Warning vs. Watch: What Each Means and the Ongoing Threat
A tornado watch means severe atmospheric conditions could produce tornadoes and residents should stay alert and prepare. A tornado warning — issued by the National Weather Service — means a tornado has been confirmed by radar or a trained spotter and immediate shelter in the lowest floor of a sturdy building is required.
Dangerous storms with tornadoes and giant hail are continuing to move across the central United States Wednesday into Wednesday night, extending the severe weather threat well beyond the initial impact zone in Illinois and Indiana.
Shelters Open, NWS Survey Ongoing, How to Get Help
People impacted by the tornado in Indiana can go to North Newton High School for emergency support and shelter. In Illinois, the American Red Cross activated a shelter at Kankakee Community College offering meals, charging stations, and pet kennels for displaced residents.
The NWS Chicago office storm survey teams are working Wednesday across the affected counties to formally rate each tornado by intensity. Officials urge all residents in Kankakee County and Newton County to avoid debris-covered roads, report downed power lines to their utility provider, and contact local emergency management with any damage information.
