Two people — an elderly couple — were found dead after a tornado destroyed their home in Newton County, Indiana, on March 10. The National Weather Service said one intense supercell produced a family of at least four tornadoes across parts of northern Illinois and northwestern Indiana. Thousands remained without power and a 6-inch hailstone in Kankakee may be an Illinois record. Officials warned that severe weather risks were shifting eastward and urged residents to stay alert and follow local guidance.
Elderly Couple Killed After Tornado Destroys Their Home as Supercell Spawns At Least Four Twisters Across IL/IN
The Newton County (Ind.) Coroner's Office shared a photo of the devastation following a tornado that hit the county on March, 10, 2026Credit: Newton County, Indiana Coroner's Office/Facebook
Two people were found dead after a tornado destroyed their home in Newton County, Indiana, following a series of powerful storms on Tuesday, March 10.
What Happened
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Chicago said a line of intense supercell thunderstorms — storms characterized by persistent, deep rotation — moved across northern Illinois and northwestern Indiana on March 10. One supercell produced a family of at least four tornadoes that tracked through Livingston and Kankakee counties in Illinois and Newton, Jasper and Starke counties in Indiana.
One of those tornadoes struck a home in the 8000 block of CR 600 W in Newton County, where an elderly couple were found deceased after their residence was destroyed, the Newton County Coroner's Office said. No names have been released pending positive identification and notification of next of kin.
Response And Impact
The Newton County Sheriff’s Office said search-and-rescue operations conducted by local fire departments were ongoing and that no additional significant injuries had been reported as of the latest update. About 4,321 customers remained without power Wednesday morning, according to Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO).
An employee emerges after being rescued from a Family Dollar store destroyed by a tornado on March 10, 2026, in Lake Village, Ind.Credit: Michael Hickey/Getty
Officials — including U.S. Sen. Mike Braun and local leaders — expressed condolences and urged residents to heed safety guidance. The American Red Cross, first responders and state and local agencies were on the ground providing immediate assistance to affected communities.
Severe Weather Details
In addition to tornadoes, the storms produced exceptionally large hail. A hailstone in the Kankakee area was reported to be about 6 inches in diameter, which could constitute a new Illinois state record if verified by the NWS.
As of Wednesday morning, parts of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio were under a tornado watch. The NWS warned that the greatest risks for tornadoes, damaging winds and large hail were shifting eastward into the Ohio Valley, the Mid-Atlantic and across the northern Gulf Coast.
Local Advisory: Kankakee Mayor Chris Curtis advised residents that another severe storm was expected to approach Kankakee County Wednesday afternoon and cautioned that the system could bring winds up to around 60 mph and hail. He urged residents to take appropriate precautions and seek shelter if necessary.
“With severe weather continuing across Indiana, I urge all Hoosiers to stay alert, follow guidance from local officials, and take precautions to keep their families safe,” the statement said.
Authorities continue damage assessments and recovery efforts. Anyone in or near the affected counties should follow local emergency information and weather updates.
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