Trending Now - Midwest Tornado Outbreak Claims Lives and Wreaks Havoc
WHO:
Edward L. Kozlowski, 89, and Arlene Kozlowski, 84, were killed in Lake Village, Indiana.
Steve Rehfeldt, son-in-law of the Kozlowskis, described them as "wonderful, just really wonderful human beings."
Laurie Postma, spokesperson for the Lake Township Volunteer Fire Department, reported injuries in Lake Village.
Trooper Jayme Bufford, spokesperson for Illinois State Police
Cpl. Eric Rot, Indiana State Police
Shannon Cothran, Newton County Sheriff
Rob Churchill, Lake Township Fire chief
Kylee Miller, CBS News Chicago meteorologist
WHAT:
At least two people were killed in northwestern Indiana due to tornadoes.
The storms caused significant damage in Kankakee, Illinois, with shattered windows, torn roofs, and smashed vehicles.
A landscape and garden center in Kankakee was seriously damaged, with some parts completely destroyed.
More than 4,300 customers in Lake Village and surrounding communities were without power late on March 11th, 2026, down from over 11,000 at the peak of the storm.
Nine people in Kankakee County had minor injuries reported.
A tornado struck Kankakee County, Illinois, causing major damage on the south side of Kankakee City and traveling northeast into Aroma Park.
In Kankakee County, approximately 7,000 electricity customers were without power, about 14% of the county.
A trained spotter observed "significant damage" with entire roofs torn off homes and 12-inch trees uprooted near Aroma Park.
In Newton County, Indiana, officials confirmed multiple homes were destroyed in Lake Village, with Sheriff Shannon Cothran stating, "Lake Village took a direct hit, please stay away from the area."
The National Weather Service reported that tornado watches remained in effect for parts of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Illinois, and Indiana.
Severe hail was reported from Texas to Illinois, with reports of hailstones up to grapefruit-sized.
Flash flooding was reported in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with a trained spotter reporting 6 to 10 inches of water covering the entire roadway on I-196 at Exit 76, stranding multiple vehicles.
In Newton County, Indiana, multiple homes were confirmed destroyed in Lake Village, with Sheriff Shannon Cothran stating, "There was a lot of damage."
Just over the Indiana state line, an apparent tornado hit several houses in Lake Village and caused injuries, according to Indiana State Police Cpl. Eric Rot, who stated, "We're still in emergency response mode."
More than 2,300 customers in Newton County, Indiana, were without electricity, about 44% of the county.
A tornado was reported in Wheatfield, Indiana, and a tornado emergency was issued for Knox, Indiana, where a “confirmed large and destructive tornado” was reported moving east at 30 mph.
In Kankakee County, Illinois, a storm chaser shared a photo of 5.2-inch hail with the weather service.
4.5-inch hail was reported near Camp Wood, Texas, and bigger than baseball-sized hail (3.5 inches) fell in Lake Waukomis, Missouri, and near the Aroma Park tornado.
Hailstones of 3 inches or more were reported near Campus, Illinois, about 80 miles southwest of Chicago.
At midnight Eastern time on March 11th, 2026, more than 4 million people remained under a tornado watch, according to the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center.
In Kankakee County, approximately 7,000 electricity customers were without power, about 14% of the county.
In Newton County, Indiana, multiple homes were confirmed destroyed in Lake Village, with Sheriff Shannon Cothran stating, "Lake Village took a direct hit, please stay away from the area."
North Newton Junior High School was opened for people needing immediate shelter, with school officials sending a bus to the fire department for transportation.
In Jasper County, roughly 23% of customers were without electricity.
A large tornado downed trees and power lines, overwhelming the 911 center with emergency calls.
The tornado caused major damage in Kankakee County, specifically on the south side of Kankakee City and Aroma Park.
No injuries have been reported in Kankakee County.
An apparent tornado in Lake Village, Indiana, caused injuries and damage to several houses.
More than 2 million Americans were at a moderate risk of severe weather in Illinois and Indiana.
Nearly 22 million were at a slightly lesser risk in a zone including Chicago, Fort Worth, Texas, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
At least six people were killed in Michigan and Oklahoma due to powerful storms producing at least three tornadoes.
WHERE:
Lake Village, Indiana, is approximately 60 miles (95 kilometers) southeast of Chicago and 25 miles (40 kilometers) east of Kankakee.
Kankakee, Illinois, and Aroma Park, Illinois, were significantly affected by the tornado.
A tornado was reported in Wheatfield, Indiana, and a tornado emergency was issued for Knox, Indiana.
Kankakee County, Illinois, approximately 47.5 miles (76.4 kilometers) south of Chicago.
Aroma Park, Illinois.
Lake Village, Indiana.
States under tornado watches include Texas, Michigan, and Indiana.
WHEN:
The tornadoes struck on March 10th, 2026, and the aftermath continued to be assessed on March 11th, 2026.
The tornado struck on March 10th, 2026, and tornado watches and warnings were in effect across the central United States on the evening of March 10th and into the early hours of March 11th, 2026.
Tornado watches and warnings were in effect across the central United States on the evening of March 10th, 2026, and into the early hours of March 11th, 2026.
The tornado struck on March 10th, 2026.
The report mentions that the previous week, at least six people were killed in storms.
WHY:
Severe storms were threatening to bring intense tornadoes, damaging winds, and very large hail.
HOW:
Crews were conducting search and rescue operations in Lake Village, where some people were trapped in damaged homes.
The tornado traveled northeast from Kankakee City into Aroma Park, causing damage along its path.
(UPDATED March 12, 2026 01:25 UTC)
Tragedy struck in Lake Village, Indiana, where tornadoes claimed the lives of Edward and Arlene Kozlowski, aged 89 and 84, respectively, with their son-in-law describing them as "wonderful, just really wonderful human beings." The storms, which hit on March 10, caused significant destruction in nearby Kankakee, Illinois, leaving shattered windows and damaged vehicles, while more than 4,300 customers were without power as of late March 11. Search and rescue operations are ongoing in Lake Village, where crews are working to assist those trapped in damaged homes.
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(UPDATED March 11, 2026 19:16 UTC)
A powerful tornado struck Kankakee County, Illinois, causing significant damage on the south side of Kankakee City and moving northeast into Aroma Park, where a trained spotter reported entire roofs torn off homes and uprooted trees. Approximately 7,000 electricity customers in the county are without power, while in nearby Newton County, Indiana, multiple homes were destroyed in Lake Village, prompting officials to advise people to stay away from the area. Meanwhile, severe weather continues to affect a wide region, with tornado watches in effect for several states and reports of flash flooding in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where up to 10 inches of water has stranded vehicles on the highway.
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(UPDATED March 11, 2026 13:22 UTC)
A powerful tornado struck Lake Village in Newton County, Indiana, on March 10, causing significant destruction to multiple homes and leaving over 2,300 customers without electricity. Indiana State Police reported injuries from the storm, which prompted emergency response efforts, while a tornado emergency was also issued for Knox, Indiana, where a large and destructive tornado was confirmed. Meanwhile, severe hail was reported in various locations, including 5.2-inch hail in Kankakee County, Illinois, and 4.5-inch hail near Camp Wood, Texas, as tornado watches and warnings remained in effect across the central United States into the early hours of March 11.
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(UPDATED March 11, 2026 07:20 UTC)
As of midnight Eastern time on March 11, 2026, over 4 million people are under a tornado watch, with significant damage reported in Lake Village, Indiana, where multiple homes have been destroyed. In Kankakee County, about 7,000 electricity customers are without power, and North Newton Junior High School has opened its doors for those seeking shelter. Tornado emergencies have also been declared in Knox, Indiana, as severe weather continues to impact the central United States.
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(UPDATED March 11, 2026 05:24 UTC)
A large tornado struck Kankakee County, Illinois, on March 10, causing significant damage in Kankakee City and Aroma Park while overwhelming the 911 center with emergency calls. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported in Kankakee County, but an apparent tornado in Lake Village, Indiana, resulted in injuries and damage to several homes. This severe weather event is part of a larger system that has already claimed at least six lives in Michigan and Oklahoma due to powerful storms producing multiple tornadoes.