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- Photos: Deadly tornadoes, massive hail, heavy rain rip through Midwest, Southern Plains, killing at least two (foxweather.com)
Midwest Ravaged by Deadly Tornadoes and Grapefruit-Sized Hail
A series of powerful and life-threatening storms tore through the Midwest and Southern Plains on Tuesday, leaving a trail of widespread destruction, claiming at least two lives, and prompting emergency declarations across affected communities. The severe weather brought with it powerful tornadoes, drenching downpours, and hail the size of grapefruits, impacting states from Texas to Michigan.
The National Weather Service had issued a dire warning, forecasting possible EF3+ tornadoes and elevating the severe weather risk to a Level 4 out of 5 for parts of Illinois and Indiana. These warnings proved tragically accurate as confirmed tornadoes touched down in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Oklahoma, and Texas. Damage assessment crews are now working to determine the final strength of these destructive storms.
The devastating impact was particularly felt in Lake Village, Indiana, where an elderly couple from the same family tragically lost their lives. The Newton County Sheriff’s Office confirmed these fatalities as the community grapples with the aftermath.
Kankakee, Illinois, and its surrounding areas bore the brunt of the storms. Kankakee County officials swiftly activated their Emergency Operations Center and filed an emergency disaster declaration with the state to facilitate damage assessments and crucial search and rescue operations.
Reports from the ground show widespread devastation, with homes losing roofs and streets littered with debris. Drone footage captured the catastrophic scale of the damage in Kankakee.
The storm also unleashed dangerous hail, some as large as grapefruits, which shattered car windshields and pummeled homes and vehicles across the region. Even FOX Weather Storm Tracker Corey Gerkin, who was on the ground chasing the storm, reported his windshield cracking from the intense hailstones while driving through Kankakee just before a tornado touched down.
FOX Weather Correspondent Katie Byrne, who initially reported from Chicago where hail created a “blanket of snow,” is now on the ground in Kankakee, surveying the extensive damage.
Emergency shelters have been established to assist those displaced by the storms. Officials have reported seven injuries so far, with the full extent of casualties still being determined. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has been briefed on the damage and has offered the state’s full support to local officials for recovery efforts.
In Indiana, Lake Village experienced “total devastation,” according to Lake Township Fire Chief Rob Churchill, who described collapsed houses and trapped residents. North Newton Jr. High School is currently serving as a shelter for those in need.
Beyond the tornadoes, the storm system also brought strong winds, with gusts between 67-77 mph recorded in Missouri, Texas, and Illinois. The National Weather Service continues to survey the damage across the Midwest and Southern Plains, and more details regarding the number and strength of tornadoes are expected to emerge.
As the system pushes eastward, the threat of severe weather remains, keeping many areas on high alert. This latest outbreak comes just days after a deadly tornado outbreak ripped through the Heartland last week, leaving many communities still struggling to recover.