Multiple Tornadoes Cause Damage in Illinois and Indiana

Several tornadoes struck northern and central Illinois and northwest Indiana on Thursday, causing damage in multiple towns.

The National Weather Service confirmed multiple tornadoes occurred in or near Streator, Illinois, Merrillville, Indiana and Hebron. Indiana. The storm corridor extended to the Chicago metro, with some areas receiving straight-line wind damage.

Heavy rainfall from training thunderstorms also led to flooding in parts of far northern Illinois, the NWS said.

In Streator, multiple homes were partially or fully flattened, according to NBC Chicago. Video on social media showed a man being pulled from the rubble of a home.

Officials in Merrillville said there has been extensive damage across the town from the storm. The damage includes downed trees and power lines, the town said on Facebook. “Crews have started to clear roadways. Please stay clear of any fallen utility lines or damaged utility poles as these pose a serious safety risk.”

The town of Hebron said fire, police and public works are assessing the storm damage and responding to calls.

North-central Illinois and northwest Indiana have experienced multiple episodes of severe weather this spring. Illinois leads the nation in tornado activity in 2026 with 133 reported twisters, according to data from NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center.