Midwest tornadoes cause widespread damage in Illinois and Indiana

A series of tornadoes struck communities south of Chicago on June 10‑11, 2026, damaging homes, schools and animal shelters in Illinois and Indiana. In Merrillville, Indiana, a high‑school roof was ripped off and trees and power lines blocked streets. Streator, Illinois, set up a family‑reunification center and a Red Cross shelter; officials reported no deaths. Power outages affected roughly 380,000 customers across the two states, and flights at Chicago, Philadelphia and New York airports were delayed or cancelled. A separate storm in Iowa killed a 54‑year‑old man at a homeless encampment when a tree fell. T‑Mobile mobilised generators, network assets and emergency alerts to keep communications running for affected customers. The National Weather Service issued tornado watches for parts of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin, while extreme heat and humidity moved into the Northeast, prompting heat‑related warnings.