Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Chicago, IL
Issued by NWS Chicago, IL
966 NOUS43 KLOT 141151 PNSLOT ILZ003>006-008-010>013-019>021-023-032-033-039-103>108-INZ001-002- 010-011-019-150000- Public Information Statement National Weather Service Chicago IL 651 AM CDT Sat Mar 14 2026 /751 AM EDT Sat Mar 14 2026/ ...NWS Damage Survey for 03/10/2026 Tornado Event - Update #1... .Update... This updated Public Information Statement includes updated information on the Kankakee - Roselawn and Wheatfield tornadoes, including narratives that were not included in the previous PNS issuance. Entries have also been added for two additional tornadoes that have been confirmed via photo and video footage. .Overview... During the afternoon and evening of Tuesday, March 10th, a supercell thunderstorm produced a total of five tornadoes across the Kankakee River Valley. The first four of these tornadoes occurred in the NWS Chicago area of responsibility. Information on each of these tornadoes can be found below. The fifth tornado -- an EF-2 that occurred in Starke County, IN -- occurred in NWS Northern Indiana`s area of responsibility. Our post-storm analysis of these tornadoes will continue over the next few weeks as we continue to review footage of the tornadoes and the damage that they caused. Therefore, the information that is provided below is still preliminary and is subject to change. We would like to thank all of our partners who have provided assistance to us with our damage surveys, including the Kankakee, Newton, and Jasper County EMAs. We would also like to extend our gratitude to all of the storm spotters, storm chasers, and members of the public who have provided photos and videos of the tornadoes and the damage that they caused for us to use in our post-storm analysis. .Pontiac... Storm chasers documented a brief tornado north of Pontiac, IL that lasted approximately 2-3 minutes. More information on this tornado will be provided at a later time. .Kankakee - Roselawn... Rating: EF3 Estimated Peak Wind: 150 mph Path Length /statute/: 36.41 miles Path Width /maximum/: 1000 yards Fatalities: 3 Injuries: 11 Start Date: 03/10/2026 Start Time: 06:18 PM CDT Start Location: 4 SW Kankakee / Kankakee County / IL Start Lat/Lon: 41.0694 / -87.9127 End Date: 03/10/2026 End Time: 07:39 PM CDT End Location: 3 W De Motte / Jasper County / IN End Lat/Lon: 41.1985 / -87.2564 Survey Summary: The tornado began just north of W 3500S Rd southwest of Kankakee, IL, just over one quarter mile west of the intersection with State Route 115. It caused approximately EF-1 structural damage and tree damage to a residence along Rt. 115. After tracking across mostly open farmland, the tornado intensified on its path east-northeastward into the far southern section of the city of Kankakee in the vicinity of Route 45, where more concentrated higher end EF-1 tree damage and structural damage was observed. A very narrow swath of more intense damage occurred along Seedorf School Rd, where a single family home was almost completely destroyed, along with other structures on the property. Several large trees were also snapped or uprooted in this area. After crossing I-57 and the Kankakee River, the tornado produced a swath of intense damage in and near northern portions of Aroma Park. In this area, multiple homes were heavily damaged to an estimated EF-2 intensity. Ground survey and aerial imagery suggests that the tornado further intensified as it tracked east- southeast before crossing the Kankakee River again. Within a narrow 150-200 yard wide section along S Sandbar Rd to the northeast of Aroma Park, two homes were completely destroyed, rated EF-3 intensity, and multiple others were heavily damaged and rendered uninhabitable. A heavy pickup truck parked in front of the garage of one of the destroyed homes was moved over 100 feet into a ditch next to the driveway, possibly being spun around the remnants of a small tree before reaching the ditch. In addition, on the other side of Sandbar Rd, a crossover type SUV appeared to have been rolled onto the adjacent property and deposited onto a pile of debris just north of a heavily damaged residence. Along the swath of the most intense structural damage, concentrated extreme tree damage was noted, with numerous large hardwood trees snapped, stubbed, or uprooted despite lacking leaves. The tornado then continued generally east to east-northeast towards the Indiana state line, downing numerous additional trees, causing occasional structural damage, and flipping irrigation pivots, as it moved just north of the communities of Wichert and Hopkins Park. The tornado crossed into Newton County north of CR W 800 N. Several manufactured homes and farm outbuildings were wiped clean off their foundations and extensive tree damage occurred as the tornado tracked east toward US Rt. 41. Immediately after crossing Rt. 41 on the south side of Lake Village, the tornado proceeded to tear the roof off a gas station, blow away the station`s canopy, and cause the partial collapse of a brick retail building. Extensive damage to homes (mostly to roofing and siding), trees, and power lines was found along CR N 300 W south of the Lake Village town center. The tornado then crossed into far northwest Jasper County just north of CR W 1100 N, continuing to damage trees, power lines, and some structures as it moved northeast across Forest City. The tornado dissipated about a mile to the northeast of Forest City. .Sun River Terrace... Storm chasers documented a satellite tornado to the Kankakee - Roselawn EF-3 that occurred near Sun River Terrace, IL. More information on this tornado will be provided at a later time. .Wheatfield... Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 110 mph Path Length /statute/: 10.45 miles Path Width /maximum/: 900 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 3 Start Date: 03/10/2026 Start Time: 07:43 PM CDT Start Location: 4 SW Wheatfield / Jasper County / IN Start Lat/Lon: 41.1559 / -87.1182 End Date: 03/10/2026 End Time: 08:10 PM CDT End Location: 2 WNW San Pierre / Jasper County / IN End Lat/Lon: 41.2106 / -86.9333 Survey Summary: The tornado began in Jasper County about 2 miles south of Stoutsburg on CR W 1000 N, where there was damage noted to a solar panel field as well as some power poles. The tornado moved east-northeast, causing damage to a farmstead on CR N 200 W. The most significant damage from this tornado was noted just south of Wheatfield on the 0-100 block of CR W 1100 N and on the 1100 block of Route 49, where numerous homes sustained considerable damage and numerous trees and power poles were downed. The tornado continued to damage solar panel fields, trees, power poles, and some farmsteads as it moved toward the Starke County line, passing through the unincorporated community of Tefft. The tornado dissipated before reaching Starke County on the 500 block of CR E 1350 N. && EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories: EF0.....65 to 85 mph EF1.....86 to 110 mph EF2.....111 to 135 mph EF3.....136 to 165 mph EF4.....166 to 200 mph EF5.....>200 mph NOTE: The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the events and publication in NWS Storm Data. $$ NWS Chicago