Overview
- Strong thunderstorms produced multiple confirmed tornadoes that caused heavy structural damage in Streator, Merrillville, Hebron and other communities.
- The storms struck on Thursday and left neighborhoods with destroyed homes, torn roofs at schools, downed trees and blocked roads while first responders conducted rescue and search operations.
- At least one storm-related death was reported in Des Moines when a tree fell on a homeless encampment during earlier strong winds, and several people have been treated for minor injuries in the Midwest.
- Hundreds of thousands of customers lost power across Illinois, Indiana and neighboring states with utilities saying restorations will be phased, prioritizing transmission lines and critical facilities first.
- NWS survey teams are mapping tornado tracks to determine counts and intensities and the Storm Prediction Center has forecast an elevated threat for damaging winds, hail and isolated tornadoes into the weekend.