Tornadoes and severe storms damage homes in Illinois and Indiana

Powerful storms sweeping through parts of the US Midwest on Tuesday triggered tornadoes that destroyed homes, knocked down trees and power lines, and flooded emergency services with calls for help.

In northwestern Indiana, Newton County officials said the community of Lake Village suffered significant damage after what appeared to be a tornado struck the area.

“Please do not come here. Do not try to help right now,” Newton County Sheriff Shannon Cothran said in a video message recorded in front of a heavily damaged home.

Authorities confirmed that several homes were destroyed. Indiana State Police Corporal Eric Rot said some residents were injured, though officials had not yet determined the exact number or the severity of their injuries.

The storms were part of a broader severe weather system moving across the Midwest, bringing heavy rain, hail and strong winds. Meteorologists warned that the system had the potential to produce intense tornadoes and large hail from the southern Plains through the southern Great Lakes region.

Tornado watches were issued across a wide stretch of the country, covering states from Oklahoma to Michigan.

Several tornadoes were reported in northeastern Illinois and northwestern Indiana, though the final number will not be confirmed until damage assessments are completed, according to Andrew Lyons, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center.

Lyons described the event as a typical early spring storm system for the region, noting that such systems often produce severe weather outbreaks during the transition from winter to warmer temperatures.

The storm is expected to continue moving east, potentially bringing additional severe weather to parts of the mid-Atlantic and the US East Coast on Wednesday.

In Illinois, officials also reported damage after a tornado touched down near the Kankakee County Fairgrounds, about 57 miles south of Chicago. The storm moved northeast toward the town of Aroma Park, where it caused widespread structural damage.

No injuries were reported in that area.

Kankakee County Sheriff Mike Downey urged residents to remain cautious while recovery crews assess the damage.

“I want to remind area residents to check on their neighbors and loved ones but to avoid unnecessary travel, if at all possible,” he said.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said state officials were monitoring the situation and preparing to assist affected communities.

“Keeping in our thoughts all Illinoisans impacted by the severe weather — we’ll be here to help them recover,” Pritzker wrote on social media.

Videos circulating online showed a tornado moving across farmland near an airport while vehicles were stopped along a nearby road.

According to forecasters, more than two million people across Illinois and Indiana were under a moderate risk of severe weather. A much larger area — affecting nearly 22 million people — faced a slightly lower but still significant risk.

That broader zone included major cities such as Chicago, Fort Worth and Oklahoma City.