Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Indiana, April 17, 2026

Name: Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Indiana, April 17, 2026
Start: 2026-04-17T21:22
End: 2026-04-17T22:07
Location: Indiana

April 17, 2026 · NWS LOT · 10 events in 4 counties and zones

A line of severe thunderstorms moved across northwest Indiana during the late evening of April 17th producing scattered wind damage and three tornadoes.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 10

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS LOT wrote it up.

A line of severe thunderstorms moved across northwest Indiana during the late evening of April 17th producing scattered wind damage and three tornadoes.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Chicago, IL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 17, 5:36 PM CST, 3 hours 46 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

Another round of showers and thunderstorms is expected later this evening into tonight. Some of the storms could be severe. Locally heavy rainfall could result in flooding issues.
Windy and unseasonably warm weather today will be replaced by much colder weather over the weekend into early next week.
Frost/freeze conditions are expected many areas Sunday and especially Monday mornings.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 17, 5:36 PM CST, 3 hours 46 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville, IL
636 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Another round of showers and thunderstorms is expected later
  this evening into tonight. Some of the storms could be
  severe. Locally heavy rainfall could result in flooding
  issues.

- Windy and unseasonably warm weather today will be replaced by
  much colder weather over the weekend into early next week.

- Frost/freeze conditions are expected many areas Sunday and
  especially Monday mornings.

&&

.MESOSCALE...
Issued at 615 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

The cluster of cyclical supercells over northwest Illinois that
ultimately produced a tornado in Winnebago County has shifted
northeastward into southern Wisconsin. Frontal convection is not
currently surging eastward toward the Mississippi River, with
radar trends indicating bowing clusters with embedded supercell
structures. While the 21Z KILX RAOB shows a remaining weak cap
and diurnal mixing has decreased dew points by a couple degrees
over much of the area, the congealing nature of the convection
and modest low-level moisture advection from the southwest
supports convection remaining quite organized well into the
forecast area this evening.

North of the I-80 corridor, a localized area of moisture
convection (aligning with a few showers over the west Chicago
metro), observed slight backing of the winds, and observed
gradual elongation of the low-level hodograph (per KLOT VWP
trends) supports a locally higher QLCS tornado threat into at
least the western Chicago metro and possibly to the lakeshore
with any bowing segments. Otherwise, damaging winds with
possibly a corridor or two of 70+ mph gusts are possible through
mid-evening.

South of the I-80 corridor, the amalgamation of a large area of
convection over over-central Illinois has a potential to
organize into a MCV with eastward extent over the next several
hours. If this were to occur, another localized damaging wind
threat with embedded QLCS tornados would be focused around the
IL/Kankakee River valleys.

Kluber

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 136 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

For near term details on the convective threats through this
evening, see the mesoscale discussion (and/or additional future
discussions) above. Additional concerns for tonight will be
centered on heavy rainfall and localized flash flooding.
Precipitable water values still lie at the upper echelon of
typically observed values for Mid April, and this coupled with
some enhanced forcing should lead to areas of 1-1.5" rainfall
in a relatively short window of time. We cannot rule out any
higher overall totals (pushing 3"), given that we have several
windows of forcing both in the open warm sector and along the
cold front. Much of this rain will go immediately into runoff.
In addition to any urban locations, it is hard to pinpoint the
more favored areas in the watch area, however the most
susceptible areas overlapping with higher confidence rainfall
would be in the Rock River Basin, and then extending eastward
into the Fox and Des Plaines River Basins across northern
Illinois. A secondary heavy rain axis may setup south, but if we
have a forward propagating system, that may limit the duration
of heavy precipitation.

A taste of reality will return to the lower Great Lakes region
behind tonight's strong cold front. High temperatures will
reached at midnight. While some temperature recoveries will
occur as clouds break through the morning, rather stout cold air
advection through the day will prevent temperatures from
plateauing higher than the mid 40s to low 50s area wide. Normal
highs for mid April are right at 60. A stiff northwest breeze
will make it feel even less pleasant, with "wind chill" readings
in the lower 40 in many areas in the afternoon. This will set
the stage for a cold night Saturday night.

Cold advection gets reinforced as the upper trough axis will be
shifting overhead. The center of the surface high will be off to our
southwest Saturday night, thus we will maintain a bit of a wind
component, however things look to decouple enough to suggest some
areas of frost.

Reinforced northwest flow on the backside of the upper trough will
maintain a similar airmass on Sunday and provide a carbon copy day
from Saturday. With high pressure nearby Sunday night, a widespread
frost appears increasingly likely, with some area in outlying areas
heading for a potential hard freeze.

Upper heights recover nicely and warm advection on the back side for
the departing surface high will encourage temperatures to rebound
back above normal through mid week with generally dry
conditions. There will be periods of onshore flow keeping cool
readings near the shore.

KMD

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 636 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

Forecast concerns include...

A broken line of thunderstorms this evening.
Strong/gusty southerly winds early this evening.
Strong/gusty northwest winds overnight/Saturday.
Mvfr cigs overnight.

A broken line of thunderstorms will move across the terminals
this evening. The forward speed of this line may begin to
increase in the next few hours and specific arrival times to
ORD/MDW remain challenging. Opted for prevailing thunder at 130Z
and maintained the 02z-04z tempo, but this may need some
adjustment. Once this line of storms moves east, a period of
showers with isolated thunder will remain possible during the
late evening with showers ending during the early overnight
hours. The main severe weather threat is expected to be locally
high westerly winds.

Ahead of these thunderstorms, southerly winds gusting into the
30kt range will continue. Prevailing speeds/gusts will diminish
behind the storms, likely favoring a south/southwest direction
and then shift to the northwest overnight when a cold front
moves across the area. Gusts into the 25-30kt range are expected
for much of Saturday, diminishing Saturday evening.

Mvfr cigs will be possible both with the thunderstorms and then
prevailing mvfr cigs are possible overnight. Only medium
confidence and cigs look to lift into low vfr by mid/late
Saturday morning. cms

&&

.LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IL...Flood Watch until 5 AM CDT Saturday for ILZ003-ILZ004-ILZ005-
     ILZ006-ILZ008-ILZ010-ILZ011-ILZ012-ILZ013-ILZ019-ILZ020-
     ILZ021-ILZ023-ILZ032-ILZ033-ILZ039-ILZ103-ILZ104-ILZ105-
     ILZ106-ILZ107-ILZ108.

IN...Flood Watch until 5 AM CDT /6 AM EDT/ Saturday for INZ001-
     INZ002-INZ010-INZ011-INZ019.

LM...Small Craft Advisory until 10 PM CDT Saturday for the IL and
     IN nearshore waters.

&&

Visit us at weather.gov/chicago

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 17, 11:18 AM CST, 10 hours 4 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville IL
1218 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

ILZ003>006-008-010>013-019>021-023-032-033-039-103>108-INZ001-002-
010-011-019-181730-
Winnebago-Boone-McHenry-Lake IL-Ogle-Lee-De Kalb-Kane-DuPage-
La Salle-Kendall-Grundy-Kankakee-Livingston-Iroquois-Ford-
Northern Cook-Central Cook-Southern Cook-Northern Will-
Southern Will-Eastern Will-Lake IN-Porter-Newton-Jasper-Benton-
1218 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026 /118 PM EDT Fri Apr 17 2026/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central
Illinois...northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight.

Weather hazards expected...

 Significant Thunderstorm Risk...with an associated:
	 Level 3 of 5 Damaging Wind Risk...up to 70 mph.
     Level 2 of 5 Tornado Risk.
     Level 1 of 5 Large Hail Risk...up to one inch in diameter.
  Elevated Flooding Risk.

DISCUSSION...

A line of thunderstorms is expected to work across northern
Illinois this evening. Thunderstorms may be severe with damaging
wind gusts, hail, and perhaps a few tornadoes. Heavy rain may
also lead to instances of flash flooding.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

Saturday...
  Elevated Frost and  Freeze Risk.
Sunday...
  Significant Frost and Freeze Risk.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

  Spotters will likely be needed this evening.

GENERAL STORM MOTION OF THE DAY:

  Moving toward the northeast at 45 mph and then becoming east.

LMZ740>745-181730-
Winthrop Harbor to Wilmette Harbor IL-
Wilmette Harbor to Northerly Island IL-
Northerly Island to Calumet Harbor IL-
Calumet Harbor IL to Gary IN-Gary to Burns Harbor IN-
Burns Harbor to Michigan City IN-
1218 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of the Illinois
nearshore waters of Lake Michigan and the Indiana nearshore
waters of Lake Michigan.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight.

Weather hazards expected...

  Hazardous conditions for small craft.
  Elevated Thunderstorm Risk...with an associated:
     Thunderstorm Waterspout Risk
     Level 3 of 5 Thunderstorm Wind Gust Risk...up to 60 knots.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

Saturday...
  Hazardous conditions for small craft are likely.
Monday and Tuesday...
  Hazardous conditions for small craft are likely.

KMD

Visit us at www.weather.gov/chicago

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 17, 7:56 PM CST, 1 hour 26 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Chicago IL
856 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0830 PM     Flood            5 WSW Hebron            42.46N 88.53W
04/17/2026                   McHenry            IL   Emergency Mngr

            Standing water on IL-173 near Oak Grove Road
            near Alden.

&&

WSL

Local storm report, Apr 17, 8:23 PM CST, 59 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Chicago IL
923 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0851 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 NW Sandwich           41.67N 88.66W
04/17/2026                   De Kalb            IL   Trained Spotter

            Report of half of a tree down blocking the
            southbound lane of Somonauk Rd just north of
            Pratt Rd in Sandwich. Time estimated by
            radar.

&&

Local storm report, Apr 17, 8:33 PM CST, 49 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Chicago IL
933 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0920 PM     Flood            2 S Harvard             42.39N 88.62W
04/17/2026                   McHenry            IL   Trained Spotter

            Report of multiple locations with around six
            inches of flowing water across IL-23 south
            of Harvard.

&&

Local storm report, Apr 17, 8:42 PM CST, 40 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Chicago IL
942 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0916 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 E Geneva              41.89N 88.28W
04/17/2026                   Kane               IL   Emergency Mngr

            Power lines reported down causing trees to
            catch fire at Kirk Rd and IL-38 in Geneva.
            Time estimated by radar.

&&

Local storm report, Apr 17, 8:45 PM CST, 37 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Chicago IL
945 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0851 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 NW Sandwich           41.67N 88.66W
04/17/2026                   De Kalb            IL   Trained Spotter

            Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from 2
            NW Sandwich. Report of a two foot diameter
            tree trunk down and blocking the southbound
            lane of Somonauk Rd just north of Pratt Rd
            in Sandwich. Time estimated by radar.

&&

Local storm report, Apr 17, 9:22 PM CST, 0 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Chicago IL
1022 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0940 PM     Flood            1 SE Third Lake         42.36N 88.00W
04/17/2026                   Lake               IL   Emergency Mngr

            Lake County EMA reported flooding at US-45
            and Washington St in Third Lake.

&&

The radar

The Chicago radar (KLOT), 105 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:18 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 thunderstorm wind, 3 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, Newton

When: April 17, 9:22 PM CST to 9:25 PM CST
Where: Newton County, 1.15 mi SSW of Effner to 1.32 mi E of Effner
Rating: EF1
Path length: 2.07 mi
Path width: 125 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 40.754, -87.526

An EF-1 tornado appeared to touch down in an open field southwest of Darrow in rural Iroquois County. It tracked northeast causing damage to trees and farm outbuildings. The peak intensity of the tornado occurred near the end of the path along the Iroquois and Newton County border, where over a dozen new wooden power poles were snapped at their base. The tornado then appeared to lift just northeast of US-24 in southwestern Newton County.

Tornado, Newton

When: April 17, 9:26 PM CST to 9:31 PM CST
Where: Newton County, 1.72 mi WSW of Kentland Municipal Airport to 3.81 mi NE of Kentland Municipal Airport
Rating: EF1
Path length: 5.47 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 40.749, -87.460

A narrow EF-1 tornado touched down near the intersection of W 1700 S and S 350 W roads near Kentland, where several large tree branches were downed. The tornado then crossed US Highway 41 at peak intensity, downing a billboard, uplifting a large portion of the roof of a restaurant, and pushing over a semi truck. A farm outbuilding was damaged nearby, as well. Debris was thrown nearly 2 miles downstream in an open field just north of US Highway 24. A narrow path evident in satellite imagery in open fields to the northeast of this debris suggested that the tornado likely continued to the northeast for approximately two more miles without impacting any trees or structures before dissipating.

Tornado, Lake

When: April 17, 9:29 PM CST to 9:38 PM CST
Where: Lake County, 4.02 mi W of Belshaw to 1.72 mi E of Lake Dalecarlia
Rating: EF0
Path length: 9.74 mi
Path width: 250 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 41.252, -87.527

This tornado began just west of the Illinois-Indiana state line near CR 9000N in northeast Kankakee County. The first instances of damage included uprooted softwood trees, downed large branches from hardwood trees, and minor structural damage noted near Stateline Rd on either side of the border. As the tornado quickly tracked northeast, it caused additional tree damage on at least one property near US-41. Along the path toward and through Lowell, the tornado blew out sections of a gas station canopy along IN-2 and then a garage wall at a residence just northwest of downtown Lowell. This was in addition to causing further tree and minor structural damage in a defined narrow path. The tornado continued through southern and southeastern sections of Lake Dalecarlia, causing primarily tree damage and minor structural damage due to fallen trees. Based on the ground survey, the tornado likely dissipated prior to reaching IN-55.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lake

When: April 17, 9:30 PM CST to 9:35 PM CST
Where: Lake County, 0.67 mi W of Lowell to 1.36 mi NE of Lowell
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 41.289, -87.433

Numerous trees and power poles were downed around Lowell outside of the path of the EF-0 tornado.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lake

When: April 17, 9:35 PM CST
Where: Lake County, 1.48 mi E of Kreitzburg to St John
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 41.434, -87.492

Numerous tree branches were downed around and southwest of St. John.

Thunderstorm Wind, Newton

When: April 17, 9:45 PM CST
Where: Newton County, 1.73 mi N of Effner to 1.7 mi N of Kentland
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 40.795, -87.525

Numerous power lines and poles were downed south of CR 1300S extending from State Line Rd to US-41.

Thunderstorm Wind, Porter

When: April 17, 9:49 PM CST
Where: Porter County, 1.55 mi E of Beatrice
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 41.430, -87.160

A one foot diameter hardwood tree was uprooted near Lakes of the Four Seasons.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jasper

When: April 17, 9:55 PM CST
Where: Jasper County, 2.14 mi NNW of Stoutsburg
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 41.220, -87.120

Power poles were damaged in a number of spots near and north of Stoutsburg.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jasper

When: April 17, 10:00 PM CST
Where: Jasper County, 0.52 mi W of Wheatfield
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 41.190, -87.060

A fence was damaged and a large playground set rolled out of a yard in Wheatfield.

Thunderstorm Wind, Porter

When: April 17, 10:07 PM CST
Where: Porter County, 2.76 mi S of Clanricarde
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 41.250, -86.950

What these are

Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Indiana in 2026 Every state in 2026 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Indiana, 2026 Warnings in Indiana, April 2026

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1333739, 1333745, 1333754, 1333991, 1333994, 1333997, 1333999, 1333980, 1333982, 1334000.