Deadly tornadoes, massive hail and flooding rip through Midwest, Southern Plains

At least two killed as life-threatening storms bring widespread destruction

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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Life-threatening storms erupted across the Midwest and Southern Plains on Tuesday, hurling grapefruit-size hail, triggering dangerous flooding, and spawning powerful tornadoes that left a trail of widespread destruction. The National Weather Service warned of possible EF3+ tornadoes, and confirmed twisters in several states, including Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Oklahoma and Texas. At least two people were killed in Lake Village, Indiana, and officials reported significant structural damage, with homes losing roofs and debris littering streets and yards.

Why it matters

The severe weather outbreak comes just days after a deadly tornado outbreak in the Heartland, underscoring the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events driven by climate change. The storms have caused widespread damage, displaced residents, and disrupted critical infrastructure, highlighting the need for communities to be prepared and resilient in the face of such natural disasters.

The details

The storms brought grapefruit-sized hail that shattered car windshields and pummeled homes and vehicles across the region. Kankakee, Illinois and its surrounding areas were among the worst-affected, with the county activating the Emergency Operations Center and filing an emergency disaster declaration. In Indiana, the North Newton Jr High School is operating as a shelter for the displaced, and officials reported multiple homes damaged in Lake Village. Raging floodwaters also swept a car off a road in Shoals, Indiana, leaving the driver missing and a passenger clinging to a tree for survival.

  • The severe weather outbreak occurred on Tuesday, March 11, 2026.

The players

National Weather Service

The National Weather Service is the primary source of weather data, forecasts, and warnings for the United States.

Newton County Sheriff's Office

The law enforcement agency responsible for Lake Village, Indiana, where two people were killed in the storms.

Kankakee County

The county in Illinois that was among the worst-affected by the storms, with the county activating the Emergency Operations Center and filing an emergency disaster declaration.

North Newton Jr High School

The school in Indiana that is operating as a shelter for residents displaced by the storms.

Rob Churchill

The Lake Twp. Fire Chief who described the damage in the area as "total devastation" with houses collapsed and people trapped.

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What they’re saying

“There were houses that collapsed, there were people trapped in houses.”

— Rob Churchill, Lake Twp. Fire Chief

What’s next

The National Weather Service will continue to survey the damage across the Midwest and Southern Plains to determine the final strength and number of tornadoes. Emergency response and recovery efforts are ongoing in the affected communities.

The takeaway

The severe weather outbreak in the Midwest and Southern Plains underscores the growing threat of extreme weather events driven by climate change. Communities must be prepared to respond to and recover from such disasters, with a focus on building resilience and mitigating the impacts of these increasingly frequent and intense storms.