Kankakee, Illinois – A powerful EF-3 tornado tore across the Illinois–Indiana state line Tuesday evening, carving a 36.6-mile path of destruction and leaving two people dead and 11 injured as winds reached 150 mph and the funnel widened to nearly 1,000 yards across.
According to the National Weather Service in Chicago, the tornado touched down near Kankakee County at 6:18 p.m. Tuesday and stayed on the ground for more than an hour before lifting near Roselawn, Indiana around 7:39 p.m. Preliminary storm survey data shows the tornado moved northeast through Kankakee County, Illinois, then across Newton and Jasper counties in Indiana.
Communities along the path, including Aroma Park, Hopkins Park, Lake Village and Roselawn, reported heavily damaged homes, snapped trees, and debris scattered across rural roadways. Emergency crews worked through the night clearing roads and searching damaged structures. Parts of U.S. 41 and rural county highways in Newton County were briefly blocked by debris as responders moved equipment into affected neighborhoods.
The tornado reached its widest point at about 1,000 yards, nearly half a mile across, capable of leveling structures and tossing vehicles. Officials warned residents to avoid damaged areas as power crews and emergency teams continue recovery operations.
The survey remains preliminary, and additional damage assessments could adjust the tornado’s final rating or track length in the coming days. More updates from the National Weather Service are expected as teams complete field inspections across the region.
