Alert archive / Indiana / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 27, NWS Northern Indiana

June 11, 2026LaPorte County, Starke County, Indiana

NWS Northern Indiana issued this tornado warning at Jun 11, 2026, 8:12 PM CDT for LaPorte County, Starke County, Indiana. It was in force for 48 min. 2 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Jun 11, 2026, 8:12 PM CDT (01:12 UTC)
Expired
Jun 11, 2026, 9:00 PM CDT
In force
48 min
Issued by
NWS Northern Indiana
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Observed
Damage threat
Considerable
Hail
0.75 in

Counties LaPorte County, IN, Starke County, IN

The radar

The Northern Indiana radar (KIWX), 92 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:15 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jun 11, 8:23 PM CDTTORNADO2 Sw South Wanatah, INThis portion of damage is associated with the EF3 tornado that impacted Kouts and points to the southwest. The tornado continued into La Porte county. A center pivot irrigation system was flipped south of W 1600 S. The tornado took a quick turn to the left as
Jun 11, 8:28 PM CDTTORNADO3 Ene Wanatah, INconfirmed touchdown via EMA.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched 2 storm reports to this tornado warning; the first came 11 minutes after it went out.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Jun 11, 7:08 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Davenport, (KDVN), launched 00:00Z, 1.2 hours before the alert went out and 309 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Davenport, at 00:00Z on 2026-06-12Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 9 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Davenport, at 00:00Z on 2026-06-12The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -130 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
9 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-418 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
893 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
60 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-130 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-57 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
-1.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

790 
WFUS53 KIWX 120112
TORIWX
INC091-149-120215-
/O.NEW.KIWX.TO.W.0027.260612T0112Z-260612T0215Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
812 PM CDT Thu Jun 11 2026

The National Weather Service in Northern Indiana has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  North central Starke County in northwestern Indiana...
  Southwestern La Porte County in northwestern Indiana...

* Until 915 PM CDT.

* At 812 PM CDT, a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado
  was located over Kouts, or 8 miles east of Hebron, moving northeast
  at 35 mph.

  This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TAKE COVER NOW!

  HAZARD...Damaging tornado.

  SOURCE...Weather spotters confirmed tornado.

  IMPACT...You are in a life-threatening situation. Flying debris 
           may be deadly to those caught without shelter. Mobile 
           homes will be destroyed. Considerable damage to homes, 
           businesses, and vehicles is likely and complete 
           destruction is possible.

* Locations impacted include...
  La Porte, Westville, Kingsford Heights, Wanatah, Hamlet, La Crosse,
  Hanna, Kingsbury, Thomaston, South Center, Pinhook, Salem Heights,
  South Wanatah, Brems, Tracy, Stillwell, Union Mills, and Haskell.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To repeat, a large, extremely dangerous and potentially deadly
tornado is on the ground. To protect your life, TAKE COVER NOW! Move
to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy
building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in
a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect
yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 4156 8693 4158 8660 4135 8659 4131 8693
TIME...MOT...LOC 0112Z 242DEG 31KT 4135 8705 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

CLH
2 follow-up statements
264 
WWUS53 KIWX 120132
SVSIWX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
832 PM CDT Thu Jun 11 2026

INC091-149-120215-
/O.CON.KIWX.TO.W.0027.000000T0000Z-260612T0215Z/
Starke IN-La Porte IN-
832 PM CDT Thu Jun 11 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 915 PM CDT FOR NORTH
CENTRAL STARKE AND SOUTHWESTERN LA PORTE COUNTIES...

At 832 PM CDT, a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was
located over Wanatah, or 7 miles southeast of Westville, moving
northeast at 35 mph.

This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TAKE COVER NOW!

HAZARD...Damaging tornado.

SOURCE...Weather spotters confirmed tornado.

IMPACT...You are in a life-threatening situation. Flying debris may 
         be deadly to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes 
         will be destroyed. Considerable damage to homes, 
         businesses, and vehicles is likely and complete destruction 
         is possible.

Locations impacted include...
La Porte, Westville, Kingsford Heights, Wanatah, Hamlet, Hanna,
Kingsbury, Thomaston, South Center, Pinhook, Salem Heights, South
Wanatah, Tracy, Stillwell, Union Mills, and Haskell.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To repeat, a large, extremely dangerous and potentially deadly
tornado is on the ground. To protect your life, TAKE COVER NOW! Move
to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy
building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in
a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect
yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 4156 8693 4158 8660 4137 8659 4135 8693
TIME...MOT...LOC 0132Z 242DEG 31KT 4143 8685 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

CLH
812 
WWUS53 KIWX 120200
SVSIWX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
900 PM CDT Thu Jun 11 2026

INC091-149-120210-
/O.CAN.KIWX.TO.W.0027.000000T0000Z-260612T0215Z/
Starke IN-La Porte IN-
900 PM CDT Thu Jun 11 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTH CENTRAL STARKE AND SOUTHWESTERN LA
PORTE COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

The tornado threat has diminished and the Tornado Warning has been
cancelled. However, large hail and damaging winds remain likely and a
Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect for the area. 

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 100 AM CDT for northwestern
Indiana.

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
Northern Indiana.

Remember, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning still remains in effect for
portions of La Porte county

&&

LAT...LON 4156 8693 4158 8660 4137 8659 4135 8693
TIME...MOT...LOC 0158Z 242DEG 31KT 4154 8657 

$$

DN

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Northern Indiana wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Jun 11, 7:34 PM CDT, 38 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Chances for severe weather exist again tonight. Damaging wind, hail, heavy rain, and a few tornadoes are possible with this severe weather threat.
  • Next chances for showers and storms return Saturday night with another cool frontal passage, bringing cooler temperatures into low/mid 70s to lower 80s along with decreased humidity across the area Sunday and Monday.
  • A moderate swim risk exists along the southeast Lake Michigan shoreline today and Friday as waves reach 2 to 4 feet. Breaking waves and currents are expected. Stay away from dangerous areas like piers, breakwalls, and river outlets. Always have a flotation device with you in the water.
Area forecast discussion, Jun 11, 7:34 PM CDT, 38 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
834 PM EDT Thu Jun 11 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Chances for severe weather exist again tonight. Damaging
  wind, hail, heavy rain, and a few tornadoes are possible with
  this severe weather threat.

- Next chances for showers and storms return Saturday night with
  another cool frontal passage, bringing cooler temperatures
  into low/mid 70s to lower 80s along with decreased humidity
  across the area Sunday and Monday.

- A moderate swim risk exists along the southeast Lake Michigan
  shoreline today and Friday as waves reach 2 to 4 feet.
  Breaking waves and currents are expected. Stay away from
  dangerous areas like piers, breakwalls, and river outlets.
  Always have a flotation device with you in the water.

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued at 833 PM EDT Thu Jun 11 2026

Tornado Watch 318 has been issued through 06z for most of the
area. A very unstable air mass continues to advect back
northeast over the area early this evening within a ramping low
level jet. Favorable low level hodo curvature enhanced by a
leftover boundary from earlier convection into areas west of
Interstate 69, and 40-50 kts of bulk shear in the 0-3 km layer
continue to make tornadoes a concern. Higher probabilities
remain for sig wind damage within any bowing segments.

Storm mode as of this writing is still a little messy just
upstream with attempts at a few supercells in the pre-frontal
environment now getting into far nw IN. These would carry a
tornado/hail/wind threat with an eventual merger into a QLCS
east through the area through the early overnight. Latest HRRR
and WoFS runs continue to suggest a weakening trend (becoming
more outflow dominant) as this activity gets into northwest OH,
though wind would still be a concern even if this occurs. A
local extension of the TOR Watch or a new Svr Watch may be
needed in our far eastern counties that were not included in
this watch.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 349 PM EDT Thu Jun 11 2026

Severe weather is still looking likely tonight. The main line
of storms will be associated with a cold front currently
located over central WI/IA and northwest MO and orientated in a
northeast to southwest manner. This front will push continue to
push eastward this evening and the timing still is looking good
for this front to approach our western edge of the CWA around 9
PM EDT. Now there is a concern that some scattered storms may
pop-up ahead of this front that could impact our area earlier
due to an old linear MCS associated with an old outflow boundary
that has transited eastward across eastern IA/MO and through
central IL earlier today. Current radar shows that some of that
activity has made it to the eastern IL/western IN border. With
the very unstable airmass still present it would not take much
to get storms to develop from any outflows that push out from
these storms.

All of the ingredients for severe weather will be present
this evening with temperatures in the mid to upper 80s and dew
points in the upper 60s to low 70s in place across the CWA and
this will provide decent surface instability with about
2500-3500 J/kg of SB CAPE. The frontal boundary will also
provide a good lifting focal point (or even a stronger outflow
boundaries that may be present ahead of the front). Effective
bulk shear values of 35 to 55 kts are available with the higher
values located across our northwestern portions of the CWA.
300-400 m2/s2 of SR Helicity is also available ahead of the cold
front which will increase the tornado threat especially earlier
in the evening. SPC currently has a majority of our area under
an enhanced severe storm risk this evening.

The aforementioned storms that are just to the west of our area
could affect the environment and mitigate some of the potential
available for when the front does arrive. So will need to see
how that pans out and could be a fly in the ointment. There also
is the expectation that storms will weaken the further east they
move through the night so the better chances for severe storms
will be further west but cannot rule out a few storms remaining
strong well into the overnight period if the storms can manage
to remain balanced and not be overwhelmed by a descending cold
pool. The storms should be through the area by 3 to 4 AM EDT and
again all threats are on the table but the most likely threat
will be winds and a few tornadoes. Heavy rainfall will accompany
these storms but there will be good forward movement to help
keep the flooding risk at bay.

In the wake of the cold front we will have a cooler and drier
airmass move into the area and should provide a very nice couple
of mostly sunny spring days on Friday and Saturday with
temperatures in the mid 70s to mid 80s. The important part is
the humidity will be decreased with dew points dropping back
into the 50s.

The next chance of showers and storms will arrive late Saturday
and into Sunday morning with another cool frontal boundary
pushing through. SPC does currently have our area under a
marginal risk with that but the diurnal timing looks to perhaps limit
the potential of the storms and will need to monitor that once
we get through tonights event.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY/...
Issued at 641 PM EDT Thu Jun 11 2026

Main focus remains on timing of convective line expected to
track through KSBN mid-late evening and KFWA toward midnight.
Shear and instability profiles definitely hint at the risk for
strong to severe convection with a brief period of 50 kt plus
winds and LIFR/IFR conditions possible with the leading line.
VFR/dry then post-frontal into tomorrow otherwise with westerly
winds up around 12 knots.

&&

.IWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IN...None.
OH...None.
MI...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 5 AM EDT Friday for LMZ043-046.

&&

UPDATE...Steinwedel
DISCUSSION...Andersen
AVIATION...Steinwedel

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jun 11, 3:20 PM CDT, 4 hours 52 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
420 PM EDT Thu Jun 11 2026

INZ012-014-103-203-204-112100-
Western St. Joseph IN-Northern La Porte IN-Marshall IN-
Southern La Porte IN-Starke IN-
420 PM EDT Thu Jun 11 2026

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN ST. JOSEPH...
STARKE...WESTERN MARSHALL AND LA PORTE COUNTIES THROUGH 500 PM
EDT/400 PM CDT/...

At 419 PM EDT/319 PM CDT/, Doppler radar was tracking strong
thunderstorms along a line extending from near Westville to 6 miles
northeast of Wheatfield. Movement was east at 45 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
La Porte, Plymouth, Westville, Knox, Walkerton, North Liberty, North
Judson, Kingsford Heights, Culver, Wanatah, Hamlet, La Crosse, Koontz
Lake, Oak Grove, Hanna, Kingsbury, Lomax, Ober, Teegarden, and
Pinhook.

This includes Interstate 80 in Indiana between mile markers 38 and
44.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
office in Northern Indiana.

&&

LAT...LON 4161 8693 4168 8645 4148 8636 4142 8632
      4118 8634 4120 8693
TIME...MOT...LOC 2019Z 258DEG 37KT 4151 8692 4123 8694

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

CLH

The office that day

Everything else NWS Northern Indiana issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 11, 7:48 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningIWX42 min
Jun 11, 8:00 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatIWXPulaski, White45 min
Jun 11, 8:05 PM CDTTornado WarningIWXLaPorte40 min
Jun 11, 8:26 PM CDTTornado WarningIWXLaPorte, Saint Joseph38 min
Jun 11, 8:38 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningIWX67 min
Jun 11, 8:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningIWXCass, Fulton, Marshall, Miami, Pulaski, Starke and 1 more47 min
Jun 11, 8:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatIWXLaPorte, Saint Joseph28 min
Jun 11, 9:00 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatIWXElkhart, Saint Joseph45 min
Jun 11, 9:08 PM CDTTornado WarningIWXCass, Fulton, Kosciusko, Miami, Wabash22 min
Jun 11, 9:11 PM CDTTornado WarningIWXKosciusko, Marshall19 min
Jun 11, 9:19 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningIWXGrant, Huntington, Miami, Wabash, Whitley41 min
Jun 11, 9:21 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatIWXElkhart, Saint Joseph39 min
Jun 11, 9:22 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningIWXElkhart, Fulton, Kosciusko, Marshall23 min
Jun 11, 9:26 PM CDTTornado WarningIWXHuntington, Wabash34 min
Jun 11, 9:30 PM CDTTornado WarningIWXKosciusko16 min
Jun 11, 9:41 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryIWXElkhart, LaPorte, Saint Joseph3 hr
Jun 11, 9:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatIWXDeKalb, Elkhart, Kosciusko, Noble, Steuben, Whitley45 min
Jun 11, 9:49 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatIWXElkhart, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben41 min
Jun 11, 9:50 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatIWXAdams, Allen, Blackford, Grant, Huntington, Jay and 2 more40 min
Jun 11, 9:51 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedIWXElkhart, LaGrange20 min
Jun 11, 10:03 PM CDTTornado WarningIWXAdams, Jay, Wells27 min
Jun 11, 10:18 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatIWXLaGrange, Steuben42 min
Jun 11, 10:19 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatIWXAdams, Allen, Jay41 min
Jun 11, 10:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningIWXAllen, DeKalb, Steuben47 min
Jun 12, 10:10 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningIWXLaPorte, Saint Joseph, Starke11 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Indiana, 2026Every tornado warning in 2026Tornadoes in 2026

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.