The Lead Off
- Severe storms tracked across Northern Indiana, Northwest Ohio and Southern Michigan on June 11–12
- Reports of possible tornado touchdowns, widespread wind damage, and structural impacts
- Thousands left without power as crews assess damage from state line to state line
FORT WAYNE, IND. (WOWO) Severe storms moved across a wide swath of the Midwest on June 11–12, bringing reports of possible tornado activity, damaging winds, downed trees, and scattered structural damage from Northern Indiana through Northwest Ohio and into Southern Michigan.
Widespread storm track across the region
Multiple rounds of severe thunderstorms developed late June 11 and continued into the early hours of June 12, prompting tornado warnings and severe thunderstorm alerts across a corridor stretching from the Illinois state line through Northern Indiana, across Northwest Ohio, and into lower Michigan.
Communities from the Indiana-Ohio border region through areas near Fort Wayne, south toward Anderson, and north into Michigan cities including areas near Lansing all saw impacts from the storm system, according to early reports and radar-indicated rotation tracked by National Weather Service offices.
Reports of possible tornado activity
Weather service offices across the region indicated several areas of radar-confirmed rotation, with possible tornado touchdowns under preliminary review. Elkhart and Kosciusko Counties were both under a Tornado Warning.
In Indiana and Northwest Ohio, storm surveys are expected to determine whether reported damage paths were caused by tornadoes or straight-line winds. Officials have not yet released final confirmation of tornado classifications as of this report.
Structural and tree damage reported
Emergency management agencies across multiple counties reported downed trees, damaged roofs, and debris scattered across roadways.
- Trees and large limbs blocking rural and residential roads
- Roof and siding damage reported in isolated areas
- Power lines downed in multiple counties
- Minor structural impacts to outbuildings and farm structures in some locations
Damage reports stretched from near the Illinois border eastward across Indiana and into Northwest Ohio communities, with additional impacts reported into Southern Michigan.
Power outages and utility response
Utility providers reported widespread outages across the storm corridor, with tens of thousands of customers impacted at the peak of the system…