BREAKING — Kankakee Tornado Confirmed — Crosses into Indiana — 7,000+ Without Power — Emergency Declaration Filed — No Deaths Confirmed — 5.2-Inch Hail Possible Illinois State Record

US News & Weather

Kankakee Tornado Causes Major Damage in Illinois

Q: What was the size of the hail that fell in Kankakee?

A storm chaser reported a 5.2-inch diameter hailstone just southwest of Kankakee, a size that would set a new Illinois state record if confirmed by the National Weather Service. Softball-sized hail was confirmed in Kankakee County. Golf ball-sized hail fell across the Chicago southwest suburbs including Woodridge, Downers Grove and Bolingbrook. Tennis ball-sized hail was reported near Pontiac and Romeoville.

Q: Was an emergency declaration filed for Kankakee?

Yes. Kankakee County Sheriff Mike Downey, County Board Chairman Matthew Alexander-Hildebrand and Mayor Chris Curtis jointly activated the Emergency Operations Center and filed an emergency disaster declaration with the State of Illinois on the night of 10 March 2026. The American Red Cross opened a shelter at Kankakee Community College for displaced residents.

A large, violent tornado touched down south of Kankakee on the evening of 10 March 2026, tearing through the Kankakee Fairgrounds, crossing the Kankakee River into Aroma Park, and continuing into northwest Indiana. Homes were destroyed, more than 7,000 customers lost power, fires broke out along the storm's path and an emergency declaration was filed with the State of Illinois before midnight.

7 min read By Robert

7,000+

Customers Without Power

6:19 pm

Tornado Touchdown Time

5.2"

Hailstone Diameter (Possible IL Record)

70 mph

Peak Wind Gusts

47.5 mi

South of Chicago

Confirmed Deaths (Kankakee Co.)

A Violent Tornado Hits Kankakee

At approximately 6:19 p.m. on Tuesday, 10 March 2026, the Kankakee County Sheriff's Office identified a tornado on the ground near the Kankakee County Fairgrounds. Within minutes, the National Weather Service in Chicago issued warnings confirming a large tornado was on the ground and moving northeast toward Aroma Park. The twister followed a path that crossed the Kankakee River before continuing toward Momence and ultimately crossing the state line into northwest Indiana, where it struck Lake Village in Newton County directly.

The Illinois State Police described major damage on the south side of Kankakee City. The sheriff's office reported extensive damage throughout the affected area, with homes partially collapsed, roofs torn away, walls brought down, and debris scattered across roads and residential areas. Multiple fires broke out along the storm's path. By 8:30 p.m., the city confirmed all fires were under control and only minor injuries to residents had been reported, a remarkably low casualty count given the scale of structural destruction. The Kankakee County Sheriff's Office confirmed zero deaths and no serious injuries as of 10:30 p.m.

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The Path of Destruction

According to Wikipedia's overview of US tornado activity, March tornadoes affecting the greater Chicago metro area are historically uncommon but not unprecedented, with the region typically seeing its peak severe weather season in May and June. The 10 March 2026 event arrived weeks ahead of the normal severe weather window, driven by an unusually warm air mass colliding with colder air to the north. Forecasters had warned for 24 hours that the collision would produce conditions capable of intense tornadoes, damaging winds and giant hail across a corridor stretching from Texas to Michigan.

The Kankakee tornado was the most significant touchdown in that corridor. It was confirmed as a stovepipe tornado, a visually distinct, narrow-column formation, spotted near the Kankakee Airport before tracking northeast. An image shared from Aroma Park showed a home with its roof partially torn off, walls collapsed and furniture scattered outside. The sheriff's office described the Aroma Park damage as extensive. Route 45/52 was closed from River Road to Exit 308 of Interstate 57 due to a combination of downed power lines, fire damage and debris. The 911 centre was described as overwhelmed with emergency calls.

NWS Emergency Warning Text The National Weather Service issued the following warning for the Kankakee area shortly before the Aroma Park touchdown: "This is a destructive, potentially life-threatening storm with hail up to softball size. Take shelter in a sturdy building away from windows immediately." The warning was the first Tornado Emergency of 2026, a designation reserved by the NWS for the most dangerous, confirmed tornado situations.

Communities Affected

Kankakee City

South side hit severely. Multiple fires, downed wires across alleys, flooded intersections. Route 45/52 closed. Residents ordered to stay home. Minor injuries only confirmed by 8:30 p.m.

Aroma Park

Extensive damage confirmed by sheriff's office. Homes with roofs torn off, collapsed walls, debris in streets. Tornado crossed Kankakee River to reach here. Search crews deployed through the village.

Bourbonnais & Bradley

Downed wires and storm damage reported. Part of the broader Kankakee County impact zone. Residents advised to avoid roadways due to hazards from fallen trees and live power lines.

Hopkins Park

NWS confirmed at 6:52 p.m. that a large tornado was on the ground on the north side of Hopkins Park with intensified rotation. A local middle school was opened as a shelter for displaced residents.

Lake Village, Indiana

Newton County took a direct tornado hit. Multiple homes destroyed. Injuries confirmed but not yet fully tallied. Fire officials ordered residents to stay away. North Newton Junior High opened as shelter.

Jasper County, Indiana

A separate tornado was reported by a trained spotter 5 miles east of Wheatfield at approximately 8:00 p.m. local time, as the broader storm system continued east through Indiana.

Record-Sized Hail Reported

The tornado was accompanied by the largest hail reported in Illinois in recent memory. A storm chaser reported a hailstone measuring 5.2 inches in diameter just southwest of Kankakee. If confirmed by the National Weather Service, that measurement would set a new Illinois state record. CBS News Chicago meteorologist David Yeomans said the reading might indeed be a record for the state. Softball-sized hail, typically around 4 to 4.5 inches, was confirmed across Kankakee County. Golf ball-sized hail fell in Bolingbrook, Woodridge, Downers Grove and Darien in the southwest suburbs. Tennis ball-sized hail was reported near Pontiac and Romeoville.

The hail shattered vehicle windows across the affected area. A photo circulated on social media showed a car in West Kankakee with its rear window entirely smashed out. The combination of tornado winds, golf ball to softball-sized hail and wind gusts of up to 70 miles per hour made the storm one of the most destructive single-day severe weather events the Kankakee area had experienced in years. CBS News Chicago Chief Meteorologist Albert Ramon described the overall severe weather risk level as among the highest seen in several years.

Why March Tornadoes Are Particularly Dangerous Nighttime tornadoes are statistically twice as deadly as tornadoes that occur during daylight hours, according to the Storm Prediction Center, because many people are asleep and unable to receive warnings in time. The Kankakee system developed in the early evening and was expected to remain active through the nighttime hours, a factor that forecasters repeatedly highlighted as a key safety concern. Weather Wire noted that a strengthening low-level jet stream would keep storms active well into the night.

Event Timeline: 10 March 2026

Afternoon

Severe thunderstorm warnings and tornado watches issued across the Chicago metro area. ComEd pre-positions crews in anticipation of widespread outages. Storm shelters opened in Manteno. Forecasters warn of softball-sized hail, 70 mph winds and tornadoes.

6:19 pm

Kankakee County Sheriff's Office identifies a tornado on the ground near the Kankakee County Fairgrounds. The stovepipe tornado is also spotted near the Kankakee Airport. NWS issues a tornado warning for Kankakee and surrounding communities.

6:26 pm

NWS issues warning: a large tornado is on the ground and headed for Aroma Park. The NWS issues the first Tornado Emergency of 2026 for the Kankakee area. Residents in Kankakee, Bourbonnais and Bradley are told to take shelter immediately.

6:52 pm

NWS reports rotation has intensified. A large tornado is confirmed on the ground on the north side of Hopkins Park. The tornado crosses the Kankakee River into Aroma Park, where extensive damage is reported. Fires break out along the storm path.

7:00 to 8:00 pm

The tornado continues toward Momence before crossing into Indiana. Lake Village in Newton County takes a direct hit. Multiple homes are destroyed. Indiana State Police confirm injuries but say crews are still in emergency response mode. North Newton Junior High opens as a shelter.

8:00 pm

A second separate tornado is reported by a trained spotter near Wheatfield in Jasper County, Indiana, as the storm system continues east. A 5.2-inch hailstone is measured southwest of Kankakee, potentially setting a new Illinois state record.

8:30 pm

City of Kankakee confirms all fires are under control and reports only minor injuries to city residents. Emergency Operations Center activated. Tens of thousands remain without power across northern Illinois and northwest Indiana.

10:30 pm

Kankakee County Sheriff's Office confirms zero deaths and no serious injuries in the county. The American Red Cross shelter at Kankakee Community College opens for displaced residents. An emergency disaster declaration is filed with the State of Illinois.

Emergency Response and Shelters

The response to the tornado was swift. Kankakee County Sheriff Mike Downey, County Board Chairman Matthew Alexander-Hildebrand and Mayor Chris Curtis jointly activated the Emergency Operations Center and filed an emergency disaster declaration with the State of Illinois the same night. The declaration is a necessary step for accessing state and potentially federal disaster assistance funding for the recovery effort. Sheriff Downey was scheduled to hold a press conference the following morning to provide a full update on storm impacts and damage assessments.

The BBC reported that the storm was part of a broader severe weather outbreak affecting the Midwest and southern Plains, with tornado watches in effect across states from Texas to Michigan. The American Red Cross opened a shelter at Kankakee Community College for those unable to return to damaged homes. In Indiana, North Newton Junior High School in Newton County was opened as an emergency shelter for Lake Village residents displaced by the destruction. Fire officials in Lake Township advised all drivers to stay out of the Lake Village area entirely as crews worked to clear debris and assess structural safety.

The tornado appears to have continued northeast, where it eventually crossed the Kankakee River into Aroma Park, where extensive damage is being reported. Sheriff's deputies and other emergency personnel continue to check for injuries and assess the damage. Kankakee County Sheriff's Office official statement, 10 March 2026

Storm Damage by Category

Category	Detail	Status
Deaths (Kankakee County)	Zero confirmed as of 10:30 p.m.	None confirmed
Injuries (Kankakee)	Minor injuries only to city residents	Minor only
Injuries (Newton Co., Indiana)	Confirmed by Indiana State Police; count unknown	Ongoing assessment
Power outages	7,000+ customers in Kankakee County; tens of thousands broader region	Ongoing
Homes destroyed	Multiple in Lake Village, Indiana; partial collapses in Aroma Park	Confirmed
Road closures	Route 45/52 closed River Road to I-57 Exit 308; multiple local roads	Active closures
Fires	Multiple fires along storm path in Kankakee	All under control by 8:30 p.m.
Emergency declaration	Filed with State of Illinois by county and city officials	Filed
Hail record	5.2-inch hailstone reported; potential Illinois state record	Pending NWS confirmation

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What to Do if You Are in the Affected Area Kankakee city officials urge all residents to remain indoors and avoid all roadways until further notice. Do not approach downed power lines under any circumstances. For non-emergency inquiries, do not call 911 as the centre remains overwhelmed. Displaced residents can access the American Red Cross shelter at Kankakee Community College. Those in Lake Village, Indiana should follow Lake Township Fire instructions and stay away from the immediate impact zone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where did the Kankakee tornado touch down?

The National Weather Service confirmed the tornado touched down south of Kankakee near the Kankakee County Fairgrounds at approximately 6:19 p.m. local time on 10 March 2026. It tracked northeast, crossing the Kankakee River into Aroma Park before continuing toward Momence and crossing the state line into northwest Indiana near Lake Village in Newton County.

Were there any deaths or injuries from the Kankakee tornado?

As of 10:30 p.m. on 10 March 2026, the Kankakee County Sheriff's Office confirmed no deaths and no serious injuries in Kankakee County. The city reported only minor injuries to residents by 8:30 p.m. In Newton County, Indiana, injuries were confirmed by Indiana State Police but exact numbers were not available as authorities remained in emergency response mode.

How many people lost power in the Kankakee tornado?

More than 7,000 customers lost power in Kankakee County and surrounding areas as a direct result of the tornado on 10 March 2026. Tens of thousands of additional customers across northern Illinois and northwest Indiana also lost power as the broader storm system moved east through the region.

What was the size of the hail that fell in Kankakee?

A storm chaser reported a 5.2-inch diameter hailstone southwest of Kankakee, which would set a new Illinois state record if confirmed by the National Weather Service. Softball-sized hail was confirmed in Kankakee County. Golf ball-sized hail fell across the Chicago southwest suburbs. Tennis ball-sized hail was reported near Pontiac and Romeoville.

What roads were closed after the Kankakee tornado?

Route 45/52 was closed from River Road to Exit 308 of Interstate 57 due to downed power lines, storm damage and fires. The City of Kankakee urged all residents to avoid roadways south of Kankakee and heading into Aroma Park. Residents were advised to remain in their homes. Drivers were warned of live wires down throughout the region.

Was an emergency declaration filed for Kankakee?

Yes. Sheriff Mike Downey, County Board Chairman Matthew Alexander-Hildebrand and Mayor Chris Curtis jointly activated the Emergency Operations Center and filed an emergency disaster declaration with the State of Illinois on the night of 10 March 2026. The American Red Cross opened a shelter at Kankakee Community College for displaced residents.

Did the tornado also hit Indiana?

Yes. The Kankakee tornado crossed the state line into northwest Indiana, striking Lake Village in Newton County directly and destroying multiple homes. Injuries were confirmed. Fire officials ordered all drivers to stay away from Lake Village. North Newton Junior High School was opened as an emergency shelter. A separate tornado was also reported near Wheatfield in Jasper County, Indiana at around 8:00 p.m.

What Comes Next?

Kankakee County Sheriff Mike Downey was scheduled to hold a press conference at 8:00 a.m. local time on 11 March 2026 to provide a full assessment of storm impacts, including damage totals, any updated injury counts from Indiana, and the state of the ongoing search and rescue efforts in Aroma Park and surrounding communities. The emergency declaration filed with the State of Illinois opens the path toward state disaster assistance funding, and potentially, a request for a federal disaster declaration if damage assessments warrant it.

Power restoration across the affected area was expected to take at least several days in the hardest-hit zones, where not only lines were down but utility poles and transformers were damaged or destroyed. The National Weather Service will conduct damage surveys in the days following the event to assign a formal EF rating to the Kankakee tornado, which will determine its official classification in the historical record. Given the structural damage to homes and the size and track of the confirmed stovepipe tornado, an EF-2 or higher rating is expected by local meteorologists.

For now, the immediate priority for emergency crews remains the same as it was overnight: account for every resident in the affected areas, clear roads of debris and live wires, restore power, and ensure no one is trapped in damaged structures. The longer rebuilding process, for homeowners whose roofs and walls came down in Aroma Park and for families whose houses were destroyed in Lake Village, is only just beginning.