CHICAGO — Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes swept across parts of the Midwest last week, damaging homes and infrastructure in Illinois, Indiana and other states, the National Weather Service said.
At least 17 tornadoes were confirmed in the Chicago area of responsibility alone from the outbreak on June 11, including multiple strong to intense twisters rated up to EF-3, officials reported. The storms affected northern and central Illinois and northwest Indiana, with additional reports from Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin.
The National Weather Service in Chicago said the tornadoes struck during the late afternoon and evening of Thursday, June 11. Among the hardest-hit areas were Streator, Illinois, where an EF-3 tornado caused significant structural damage, and communities near Kouts, Indiana.
Preliminary surveys identified tornadoes in locations including Wenona/Osage Township, Graymont to Dwight, Bartlett in Illinois, and Merrillville to Hobart in Indiana. Damage included leveled homes, downed trees and power lines, and twisted transmission structures in some areas.
One person died in Iowa when a tree fell during related severe storms earlier in the week, local authorities said. No fatalities were immediately reported from the June 11 tornadoes in Illinois and Indiana, despite widespread destruction.
Power outages affected more than 400,000 customers at the peak, according to utility reports. Restoration efforts continued into the weekend, with some areas still without electricity as of Sunday.
The outbreak was part of a multi-day stretch of severe weather across the central United States. The Storm Prediction Center had issued enhanced risk outlooks for damaging winds, large hail and tornadoes in the region.
Illinois Emergency Management Agency officials coordinated response and recovery efforts. “Our teams are on the ground assessing damage and supporting local communities,” an agency spokesperson said.
The National Weather Service noted that final ratings and counts could increase as surveys continue. Details on the total number of injuries and the full extent of insured losses remained under assessment.
Similar severe weather patterns have occurred earlier in the 2026 season, contributing to above-average tornado activity in parts of the Midwest. As of Monday, cleanup and damage assessments were ongoing in affected communities, with no new major severe weather threats reported for the immediate area.
