Midwest tornadoes batter Illinois and Indiana; cleanup begins

Friday, June 12, 2026Confirmed

World Desk

What we know

A severe storm line Thursday evening produced multiple tornadoes south and southwest of Chicago, with the National Weather Service confirming twisters including preliminary EF-3 ratings in Streator, Illinois, and Kouts, Indiana. Merrillville, Indiana, and communities including Bartlett and Dwight, Illinois, also reported significant damage as residents began cleanup Friday.

Roughly 380,000 to nearly 500,000 customers lost power across Illinois, Indiana and neighboring states at the peak; Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway airports saw ground stops and widespread delays Thursday. A separate Wednesday storm killed a 54-year-old man in a Des Moines park after a tree fell; officials reported no additional confirmed storm deaths from Thursday’s Illinois-Indiana tornadoes as of Friday surveys.

What's confirmed

NWS: multiple tornadoes Thu night incl. preliminary EF-3 Streator IL and Kouts IN; also Bartlett, Dwight, Merrillville damage (CBS/ABC/UPI).
Power: ~380k–500k customers out across IL/IN (and region) Friday morning peak (ABC/UPI/CBS).
Airports: O’Hare/Midway ground stops and 1,000+ Chicago-area delays/cancellations Thursday (CBS).
Iowa: 54-year-old killed Wednesday in Des Moines park by fallen tree in prior storms (CBS/UPI).

What's still developing

Final NWS tornado count and upgraded EF ratings after full damage surveys.
Timeline for power restoration in hardest-hit Streator, Merrillville, and Kouts corridors.
Federal or state disaster declarations and aid for destroyed homes and schools.

Sources

CBS News — Tornadoes and severe storms slam Midwest, killing at least 1 link
ABC News — Officials search tornado-damaged areas after strong storms hit Illinois and Indiana link
UPI — Tornadoes, storms damage homes in the midwest, 1 dead link
CBS Chicago — NWS confirms 11 tornadoes; Streator, Merrillville among hardest hit link