Deadly Tornadoes Strike in the Night Across the Midwest, Destroying Homes and Killing 2

Damaging tornadoes and massive hail were reported across multiple states on Tuesday night during a dangerous severe weather outbreak from the Plains to the Midwest.

Several tornadoes caused significant damage in Indiana, Illinois, and Texas on Tuesday night, according to AccuWeather, while hailstones the “size of grapefruit” rained down in the same area. 

At midnight Eastern time, more than 4 million people remained under a tornado watch, according to the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center, with extreme weather conditions predicted to continue into Wednesday evening. 

"A large portion of the eastern US from East Texas to Pennsylvania and the Delmarva is under a level 2 out of 5 threat for severe weather today," the center posted on X. "Large hail, damaging wind gusts, and tornadoes are all possible."

Countless damage has been reported as well, and two deaths were reported in Northwest Indiana, a spokesperson for the Lake Village, IN, Volunteer Fire Department said on Wednesday, according to CNN. 

'Total devastation' in Indiana

The NWS Chicago office reported that one supercell caused "a family of tornadoes (at least 4)" across Livingston and Kankakee counties in Illinois, and Newton, Jasper, and Starke counties in Northwestern Indiana on Tuesday night. Among those hit the hardest was the town of Lake Village. 

“Right before 7 p.m. (Tuesday), a large tornado hit our community, and it hit us hard,” spokesperson Lori Postma told the press.

When first responders made an early assessment overnight, they found “total devastation,” added Lake Township Volunteer Fire Department Chief Rob Churchill.

“There were houses that were collapsed. There were people trapped in houses. There’s livestock loose,” he said.

Newton County Sheriff Shannon Cothran put out a plea in a video post from Lake Village, asking the public to please stay away after a tornado tore things up there. 

"Lake Village has been hit by a tornado. Several houses have taken damage. It's a mess. Seriously, please don't come here. Don't try to help," said Cothran, who was standing in front of at least one house that had been totaled.

More storms to come?

The severe weather system is forecast by AccuWeather to continue to impact an area stretching from Texas and Louisiana up to Pennsylvania and parts of New York, beginning on Wednesday and lasting into Wednesday night.

“This setup is on track to produce the most widespread and impactful severe weather outbreak so far this year,” AccuWeather senior meteorologist Courtney Travis said. “The overlap of strong winds aloft, abundant moisture from the Gulf, and sharp temperature contrasts creates an environment supportive of tornadoes, damaging wind gusts, and large hail."

According to Accuweather, all severe weather modes will be possible from Wednesday through the night, including “damaging winds, large hail, flash flooding, and several tornadoes.”

Major metro areas that may experience severe weather include Houston, San Antonio, Nashville, TN, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Atlanta, and Columbus, OH.