Weather

17 Tornadoes Confirmed In Illinois, Indiana: NWS

The strongest tornado in Illinois was in Streator.

This photo made from video provided by WLS shows an aerial view of storm damage and a tornado-ravaged area on Friday, June 12, 2026, in Merrillville, Ind.
This photo made from video provided by WLS shows an aerial view of storm damage and a tornado-ravaged area on Friday, June 12, 2026, in Merrillville, Ind. (WLS via AP)

Seventeen tornados have been confirmed after severe storms hit the Chicago and northwest Indiana areas on June 11, the National Weather Service said.

The weather service said some of these tornadoes were strong, and caused notable damage including in Streator; Merillville, Indiana; and Hebron, Indiana.

NWS Chicago has confirmed at least 17 tornadoes:

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  • Wenona/Osage Township, EF-1
  • Streator, EF-3
  • Graymont to Dwight, EF-1
  • Bartlett, EF-1
  • St. John to Schererville, Indiana EF-0
  • Merrillville to Hobart, Indiana EF-2
  • Gibson City to Elliott, EF-0
  • Paxton/Loda, EF-1
  • Ludlow, EF-1
  • Cedar Lake, Indiana, EF-0
  • Schneider to Hebron, Indiana, EF-0
  • Hebron to Kouts, Indiana, EF-3
  • Naperville to Lisle, EF-0
  • Hickory Hills to Midway Airport, EF-2
  • At least two EF-0 tornadoes across a corridor from Watseka, to west of Rensselaer, Indiana
  • Boswell, Indiana, EF-1

Additional analysis of these tornadoes will continue over the coming days, the weather service said.

The tornado in Hickory Hills caused widespread power outages, and extensive damage to trees, buildings and structures. The tornado-warned storm ripped the roof off a Bridgeview apartment building near 79th Street and Oketo Avenue and knocked down a billboard in Roberts Park. Winds also tore off the roofs of apartment buildings in Roberts Park.

Find out what's happening in Across Illinoisfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

An EF-0 tornado also touched down in Naperville. The tornado came after a severe storm Wednesday that left downed trees, blocking 19 roads in its immediate aftermath, Naperville Director of Communications Linda LaCloche told Patch.

In addition to the tornadoes, the weather service said there was also areas of "destructive straight-line wind damage [which] occurred in parts of the Chicago metro and in areas south of the Kankakee River."

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