Record-Breaking Hailstone Shatters Illinois

A monstrous 6.0-inch hailstone crashed into Illinois, potentially shattering state records while killer tornadoes from a single supercell claimed two lives across state lines, exposing Midwest families to nature’s raw fury.

Story Snapshot

At least four tornadoes ripped through northern Illinois and northwestern Indiana, leveling homes in Aroma Park and Lake Village.
A record-shattering 6.0-inch hailstone fell in Kankakee, Illinois, dwarfing the previous 4.75-inch mark from 2015.
Two fatalities and multiple injuries reported amid widespread property destruction and overwhelmed emergency services.
One persistent supercell thunderstorm produced all tornadoes, highlighting the lethal power of early spring storms in the Midwest.
National Weather Service warnings provided critical lead time, but recovery challenges loom for hardworking communities.

Storm Timeline and Warnings

The National Weather Service issued a severe weather forecast for central Illinois, predicting damaging winds, large hail, and strong tornadoes starting late afternoon. A tornado watch followed, covering parts of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Missouri. Tornado warnings activated in Kankakee County. Multiple supercell thunderstorms then swept northern Illinois and northwestern Indiana that evening, spawning tornadoes and giant hail. By March 12 at 2:00 a.m., storms hit Champaign-Urbana before the watch canceled.

Record Hail and Destructive Path

A single supercell thunderstorm generated at least four tornadoes crossing from Illinois into Indiana, affecting Kankakee, Livingston counties in Illinois, and Newton, Jasper, Starke counties in Indiana. The same storm dropped hail from 3 to 5 inches, with a 6.0-inch diameter stone in Kankakee potentially setting a new Illinois record, surpassing the 4.75-inch hail from Minooka in 2015. A separate supercell hammered Chicago suburbs with 2-4 inch hail, peaking at 4.8 inches in Darien. These events underscore Midwest vulnerability to early spring supercells.

Communities like Aroma Park, Illinois, and Lake Village, Indiana—57 miles south of Chicago along the Kankakee River Valley—suffered most. Multiple homes leveled, power lines snapped, and trees toppled. A 911 center south of Chicago swamped with calls as emergency services stretched thin. Search and rescue pressed on late into March 10-11 nights.

Human Toll and Emergency Response

Two deaths marked this storm’s tragic toll, with a few minor injuries in Lake Village and elsewhere. The American Red Cross opened a shelter at Kankakee Community College; North Newton High School served Indiana victims. National Weather Service teams planned March 11 surveys to rate tornado strength and tally exact numbers, currently at least four. Sheriff Shannon Cothran of Newton County urged: “Please do not come here. Do not try to help right now,” prioritizing responder access. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker pledged: “We’ll be here to help them recover.”

Tornadoes, record-size hail strike Illinois and Indiana, leaving two dead and widespread damage https://t.co/dorFOv1Q5n

— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) March 11, 2026

Meteorologist Andrew Lyons of the NWS Storm Prediction Center called it a typical early spring system, yet its supercell—defined by persistent deep rotation—delivered outsized destruction. Accurate forecasts gave residents shelter time, but long-term rebuilding faces insurance strains and infrastructure repairs in these heartland towns. Families displaced tonight highlight needs for robust local preparedness over distant government overreach.