Tornadoes spawned by severe storms killed at least two people in northwestern Indiana and caused significant damage in Kankakee County, Illinois on Tuesday evening. The tornadoes were part of a supercell that tracked from Pontiac, Illinois all the way to Knox, Indiana.
Key Takeaways
Tornadoes spawned by severe storms killed at least two people and caused significant damage in northwestern Indiana and Kankakee County, Illinois on Tuesday evening.
- Tornadoes killed an elderly couple in Lake Village, Indiana.
- The tornadoes were part of a supercell that tracked from Pontiac, Illinois to Knox, Indiana.
- Damage indicators suggest the tornado could be EF-2 or EF-3 strength with winds up to 160 miles per hour.
- Authorities urged residents not to come to the affected areas and allow first responders to work.
The National Weather Service is conducting surveys to determine the number and strength of the tornadoes. Damage indicators suggest the tornado could be EF-2 or EF-3 strength with winds up to 160 miles per hour. The supercell produced hail ranging in size from 2 to 4 inches in diameter from Pontiac to the Illinois/Indiana state line.
In Lake Village, Indiana, a tornado struck a home, killing an elderly couple according to Newton County Coroner Scott McCord. Their names have not been released. The tornado carved a path of destruction 45 to 50 miles long and decimated the area. Fewer than 10 people were hurt in Tuesday's storms.
Storm chaser Freddie Bryant described the intensity of the storm, saying, `We started in Pontiac and then we got to Kankakee, and that's when it got really strong, multiple vortex tornado. And then it turned into a big stovepipe, and you could hear the roar; it was pretty intense.`
Steven Travis, a resident of Lake Village, recounted his experience during the storm: `I was looking out the front window and I seen a dumpster fly by; that's when I went for cover. I went to the bedroom. The roof lifted off, the ceiling come down, knocked me down, I climbed into the closet. And that's where I come out and debris was everywhere. I mean, the place was destroyed.`
Local authorities urged residents not to come to the affected areas and allow first responders to work. Newton County Sheriff Shannon Cothran said in a video update Tuesday night, `Please do not come here. Do not try to help right now.` Rob Churchill, chief of the Lake Township fire department in Indiana, echoed this sentiment, stating, `We have multiple homes destroyed, please stay away from the area.`
Crews are still determining the strength and number of tornadoes. Parts of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio remain under a tornado watch.
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