Event Overview
On March 10, 2026, a significant weather event impacted Kankakee County, Illinois, and portions of Newton County, Indiana. The event, classified as an EF-3 tornado with estimated peak winds near 150 mph, resulted in two fatalities and extensive structural damage. The path of the tornado extended 36.6 miles, beginning west of the Kankakee Airport and dissipating in far northwest Jasper County.
Storm Evolution
Radar data from the KLOT site between 23:01 UTC on March 10 and 01:50 UTC on March 11 indicated a persistent, intense storm system. Reflectivity values remained consistently high, frequently exceeding 70 dBZ, with a peak of 74.0 dBZ recorded at 01:38 UTC. Echo tops for the 18 dBZ threshold reached as high as 69.4 kft at 00:19 UTC. Throughout the duration of the radar scans provided, inbound and outbound velocities remained locked at -64.1 knots and 64.1 knots, respectively.
Warnings Issued
The National Weather Service office in Chicago (LOT) issued a series of warnings as the storm progressed:
- Severe Thunderstorm Warning (LOT.SV.W.0012): Issued at 23:02 UTC, covering Will and Kankakee Counties.
- Severe Thunderstorm Warning (LOT.SV.W.0013): Issued at 23:09 UTC, covering Kankakee County.
- Tornado Warning (LOT.TO.W.0003): Issued at 23:16 UTC, covering Kankakee County.
- Severe Thunderstorm Warning (LOT.SV.W.0014): Issued at 23:45 UTC, covering Kankakee, Will, Lake, and Newton Counties.
- Tornado Warning (LOT.TO.W.0004): Issued at 23:55 UTC, covering Kankakee, Lake, and Newton Counties.
Impacts
The event caused widespread damage across Kankakee and Newton Counties. Notable impacts include:
- Fatalities: Two fatalities were reported in Newton County, Indiana, where three manufactured homes were completely destroyed on 600 West Road north of 800 North Road.
- Structural Damage: Significant damage was reported near the Kankakee Airport, including roof damage near West Industrial Park Drive and Stuart Drive. Additional damage to structures and a solar farm was documented near 2000 South Road and 3000 East Road in Aroma Park. In Lake Village, Indiana, commercial signs and structures sustained damage near US-41 and 300 West Road.
- Hail: The event produced extreme hail, with multiple reports of baseball-sized (2.75 inch) to softball-sized (4 inch) hail. A notable hailstone measuring 6.14 inches in diameter was recovered on Osborn Ave in Kankakee, which is a candidate for the Illinois state record.
- Non-Convective Wind: A non-convective wind gust of 55 mph was recorded at the Kankakee Airport (KIKK) on March 13 at 16:35 UTC.
Conclusion
The March 10, 2026, event was a high-impact weather occurrence characterized by an EF-3 tornado and record-setting hail. While the NCEI database currently lists zero formal records for this event, Local Storm Reports (LSRs) provide comprehensive documentation of the destruction and the tragic loss of life in Newton County. The storm exhibited sustained high reflectivity and velocity signatures throughout its lifecycle, consistent with the severe damage reported on the ground.