Overview
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A supercell developed near Kankakee, IL during the evening of Tuesday, March 10th. There was a sharp gradient in temperatures in northern Indiana and northern Illinois due to a lake breeze coming off of Lake Michigan. This supercell formed in the warm sector and was well south of a warm front anchored near the Indiana-Michigan stateline. Because the supercell was on its own, it was unimpeded and able to tap into a favorable environment. It moved through far northeast Illinois and into northwest Indiana, creating a continuous path of large hail and tornado damage. This supercell then entered our forecast area in Starke County and continued to produce damage through the western portion of the county. The tornado was caught on video by several chasers in the area and prompted a Tornado Emergency to be issued as it moved closer to Knox, IN. This was the 3rd Tornado Emergency issued by NWS Northern Indiana and the first since one was issued on May 7, 2024 for Union City, MI in Branch County. The strong cold front swept through during the day on March 11th, rapidly dropping temperatures from the 60s to the 30s. On the morning of March 11th, the environment was still favorable for isolated tornadoes and sporadic damaging wind gusts along and south the US 24 corridor. A squall line moved through during the late morning/midday hours. Brief EF-0 tornadoes were confirmed in Wells and Jay Counties. Many thanks go to Wells and Jay County emergency management officials for assisting with the surveys!
Webpage last updated at 11:30 PM EDT March 12th
Our hearts go out to anyone affected by the severe storms and tornadoes on March 10th and 11th. We appreciate everyone who has sent in pictures, videos, and reports to us of damage including emergency management, trained spotters, broadcast media, storm chasers, and the public. A NWS storm survey confirmed an EF-2 tornado in Starke County, IN west of Knox. This tornado is associated with the same parent supercell that spawned the Kankakee, IL-Lake Village, IN EF-3 tornado and the Wheatfield, IN EF-1 tornado on the evening of March 10th. Additional EF-0 tornadoes were confirmed on March 11th in Jay and Wells Counties.
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Tornadoes
Select a tornado from the table to zoom into the track and view more information. The default table view is limited to 8 tracks, but can be scrolled by a mouse wheel or dynamically expanded. Additionally, the table can fill the entire window by clicking the small circular expanding arrow icon at the very top right of the table and returned to its original size by clicking the button again. The side information panel that opens over the map can be closed using the "X" on the upper right corner of the pop-up. Zoom into the map and click damage points to see detailed information and pictures from the surveys.
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NOTE: times shown below are local to your device's time zone. |
The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:
| EF0 Weak 65-85 mph |
EF1 Moderate 86-110 mph |
EF2 Significant 111-135 mph |
EF3 Severe 136-165 mph |
EF4 Extreme 166-200 mph |
EF5 Catastrophic 200+ mph |
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| Tornadoes that fail to impact any ratable damage indicators on the EF-Scale are rated EF-Unknown (EF-U) | |||||
Photos
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| Photo of the tornado near Knox, IN (Amber NeVille) |
A grain dryer was toppled in western Starke County by the tornado (LukeZimWx) |
A view of the tornado in San Pierre, IN (Zach_the_trick1) |
Damage in Stark County, IN (OH Storm Chasers) |
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| Damage in Stark County, IN (OH Storm Chasers) |
Tree damage east of US-421 (NWS IWX Storm Survey) |
Damaged outbuilings east of US-421 (NWS IWX Storm Survey) |
Damaged outbuilings east of US-421 (NWS IWX Storm Survey) |
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| Damage to a barn on SR 8 northwest of Knox, IN (NWS IWX Storm Survey) |
A pole barn was damaged near the Starke County Airport (NWS IWX Storm Survey) |
Barn damaged near Vera Cruz (Wells County EMA) | Barn damaged near Powers (Jay County EMA) |
Storm Reports
Preliminary Local Storm Report...Summary
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
123 AM EDT Wed Mar 11 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0908 PM Tornado 1 WNW San Pierre 41.21N 86.92W
03/10/2026 Starke IN Trained Spotter
Spotter had photo of the tornado as it
entered Starke County north and west of San
Pierre, IN. Time estimated by radar. Delayed
report.
0910 PM Hail 1 W La Crosse 41.32N 86.91W
03/10/2026 M0.70 Inch La Porte IN Public
0915 PM Tornado 2 SW Lomax 41.24N 86.90W
03/10/2026 Starke IN NWS Storm Survey
Based on radar, an NWS Survey and reports
from numerous spotter and emergency
management officials, one final tornado has
been confirmed with a cyclic supercell that
originated in eastern Illinois. The tornado
quickly developed about 3 miles northeast of
the end of the Wheatfield, IN tornado,
starting southwest of the intersection of US
421 and CR W 400 S where 2 large pole barns
suffered extensive damage, as well as 3
empty grain bins. The debris was carried up
to a half mile downstream. Videos and
eyewitness reports indicate a large cone
shaped funnel continued northeast causing
damage to trees, some center pivot
irrigation systems and a few other barns and
homes, eventually crossing State Road 39
near CR W 150 S. It then continued over
mainly over unplanted fields before causing
some additional damage at SR 8 and CR N 250
E. It lifted just southeast of the Starke
county airport. The tornado has a few areas
which suggested some multi vortex funnels
caused damage in the larger swath, which
maxed out just over a half mile wide.
0927 PM Tornado 2 ESE English Lake 41.26N 86.79W
03/10/2026 Starke IN Trained Spotter
Observed tornado by spotter video (delayed
report).
0935 PM Tornado 2 WNW Toto 41.27N 86.73W
03/10/2026 Starke IN Trained Spotter
Spotter said there is damage to numerous
trees in this area near W County Road 200 S
on IN-39.
0935 PM Tornado 2 WNW Toto 41.27N 86.74W
03/10/2026 Starke IN Trained Spotter
Healthy 1ft diameter trees uprooted. Some
snapped at the top.
0935 PM Tornado 3 N Toto 41.30N 86.70W
03/10/2026 Starke IN Emergency Mngr
Tornado observed. Damage between East 200
South and East 50 south. Large diameter
trees downed.
0936 PM Tornado 1 N Toto 41.27N 86.70W
03/10/2026 Starke IN Trained Spotter
Tornado picture from spotter sent in looking
to the west-northwest. Lat/lon is spotter
location. Delayed report.
0937 PM Tornado 2 SE Brems 41.32N 86.66W
03/10/2026 Starke IN Trained Spotter
Grain Dryer blown over. Time estimated by
radar. Delayed report.
0937 PM Tornado 2 SW Brems 41.32N 86.72W
03/10/2026 Starke IN Amateur Radio
Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report to
tornado from 2 SW Brems. Report of a barn
destroyed with debris on Route 8 just west
of the Starke County airport. Time estimated
via radar.
0940 PM Hail 2 WNW Brems 41.35N 86.74W
03/10/2026 M0.75 Inch La Porte IN Trained Spotter
0944 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 2 ESE Brems 41.33N 86.67W
03/10/2026 M51 MPH Starke IN AWOS
AWOS station KOXI Knox - Starke Co. Airport.
0950 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 3 WNW South Bend 41.70N 86.32W
03/10/2026 M60 MPH St. Joseph IN ASOS
ASOS station KSBN South Bend International
Ap.
1056 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 2 SW Fishers Lake 41.97N 85.60W
03/10/2026 M48 MPH St. Joseph MI AWOS
Corrects previous tstm wnd gst report from 2
SW Fishers Lake. AWOS station KHAI Three
Rivers.
1110 PM Marine Tstm Wind 2 NW Michigan City 41.73N 86.91W
03/10/2026 M51 MPH LMZ046 IN C-Man Station
1115 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 N Benton Heights 42.13N 86.42W
03/10/2026 M44 MPH Berrien MI ASOS
ASOS station KBEH Benton Harbor.
1148 PM Hail Rolling Prarie 41.67N 86.62W
03/10/2026 M0.70 Inch La Porte IN Trained Spotter
1240 AM Marine Tstm Wind 2 NW Michigan City 41.73N 86.91W
03/11/2026 M41 MPH LMZ046 IN C-Man Station
0735 AM Tornado 2 WSW Vera Cruz 40.69N 85.11W
03/11/2026 Wells IN NWS Storm Survey
A weak circulation touched down in an open
field southwest of the intersection of CR S
600 E and E 350 S. The tornado moved
northeast causing damage to a pole barn
which lost its roof as well as had leaning
walls. Debris impacted an adjacent pole barn
with the pieces of metal being carried
downstream into a yard just to the east of
the above noted intersection. The
circulation continued across mainly
unplanted fields, but drone imagery
indicated a narrow area of very light
scouring in the field and inflow into the
tornado. A tree fell onto SR 116 near E 300
S, which a car ran into to. It then
continued northeast before lifting near the
county line at S 700 W-1. A small garage was
shifted off its foundation as the garage
door was impacted by the winds as it
dissipated.
0916 AM Tornado 2 S Redkey 40.32N 85.15W
03/11/2026 Jay IN NWS Storm Survey
A tornado touched down south of CR W 800 S
and west of SR 1, crossing the road and
snapping 3 power poles. On the northern
edge, a barn suffered door damage, a few
downed trees and damage to a greenhouse. The
tornado moved NE, crossing W 800 S and
causing roof damage to a home as well as
some tree damage on a few properties. As it
was passing northwest of the intersection of
CR W 800 S and S 700 W, it caused roof
damage to the roof of a pole barn with
debris being carried roughly 350 yards to
the east. The final damage was noted at 2
animal barns on S 600 W where roof lost was
noted, the most extensive being on the west
side of S 600 W where the metal roofing was
carried into an adjacent field. No damage
was noted beyond this area.
Rainfall Totals
Public Information Statement National Weather Service Northern Indiana 903 PM EDT Wed Mar 11 2026 ...PRECIPITATION REPORTS THROUGH 8 PM EDT MAR 11, 2026... Location Amount Time/Date Provider ...Indiana... ...Adams County... 0.8 N Linn Grove 0.98 in 0745 PM 03/11 HADS ...Allen County... Fort Wayne 1.6 S 2.09 in 0430 PM 03/11 COCORAHS 4 S Tuckers Corner 0.56 in 0850 PM 03/11 AWS Fort Wayne International Ap 0.46 in 0854 PM 03/11 ASOS ...Cass County... Logansport 0.67 in 0845 PM 03/11 CWOP Walton 0.52 in 0845 PM 03/11 CWOP ...De Kalb County... 1.7 SE Butler 1.04 in 1010 AM 03/11 COOP Auburn 0.2 SE 0.96 in 0800 PM 03/11 COCORAHS ...Elkhart County... Goshen 2.14 in 0853 PM 03/11 ASOS Goshen 3 SW 1.55 in 0700 PM 03/11 COOP Elkhart Municipa 1.12 in 0855 PM 03/11 AWOS ...Grant County... MARION 0.96 in 0856 PM 03/11 CWOP Grant County Municipal Apt 0.92 in 0835 PM 03/11 AWOS ...Huntington County... 2.4 NW Warren 0.56 in 0745 PM 03/11 HADS 1.7 E Bowerstown 0.55 in 0800 PM 03/11 HADS Huntington 0.39 in 0835 PM 03/11 AWOS ...Jay County... 1 N Portland 0.64 in 0855 PM 03/11 AWOS ...Kosciusko County... Syracuse 1.82 in 0855 PM 03/11 AWS Warsaw Muni 0.55 in 0855 PM 03/11 AWOS 1 SSE Clunette 0.52 in 0850 PM 03/11 AWS ...La Porte County... La Porte 2.3 ESE 1.77 in 0930 AM 03/11 COCORAHS Wanatah 4.4 ESE 0.98 in 1000 AM 03/11 COCORAHS La Porte 0.95 in 0835 PM 03/11 AWOS ...Marshall County... 1.2 W Plymouth 1.72 in 0845 PM 03/11 COOP Plymouth 2.5 WSW 1.39 in 1030 AM 03/11 COCORAHS ...Miami County... Amboy 0.74 in 0845 PM 03/11 CWOP Peru 0.46 in 0830 PM 03/11 HADS Grissom AFB Peru 0.36 in 0855 PM 03/11 AWOS ...Noble County... Ligonier 5.45 in 0854 PM 03/11 AWS Ligonier 5.3 ENE 4.55 in 0930 AM 03/11 COCORAHS Cosperville 1.50 in 0830 PM 03/11 HADS Albion 3.7 S 0.95 in 0930 AM 03/11 COCORAHS ...Pulaski County... 1.3 SW Ora 0.32 in 0845 PM 03/11 COOP ...St. Joseph County... South Bend International Ap 1.56 in 0854 PM 03/11 ASOS Walkerton 4.1 ENE 1.17 in 1130 AM 03/11 COCORAHS 0.9 W Roseland 1.09 in 0815 PM 03/11 COOP ...Starke County... 3.5 N Brems 0.03 in 0800 PM 03/11 HADS ...Steuben County... 0.7 E Hamilton 2.06 in 0845 PM 03/11 HADS ...Wabash County... 0.7 SE Wabash 0.67 in 0830 PM 03/11 HADS 3.0 SE Lagro 0.37 in 0815 PM 03/11 HADS ...Wells County... Bluffton 1.40 in 0845 PM 03/11 HADS ...White County... Monticello - White County Ar 0.57 in 0855 PM 03/11 AWOS Burnettsville 9.9 NNW 0.53 in 1120 AM 03/11 COCORAHS ...Michigan... ...Berrien County... 3.7 S Watervliet 0.81 in 0800 PM 03/11 UCOOP Benton Harbor 0.76 in 0853 PM 03/11 ASOS ...Branch County... 1 SSW Coldwater 0.81 in 0853 PM 03/11 AWS Coldwater 0.57 in 0855 PM 03/11 AWOS ...St. Joseph County... 2.0 SE Mendon 0.93 in 0800 PM 03/11 UCOOP Three Rivers 0.18 in 0855 PM 03/11 AWOS Sturgis Kirsch 0.01 in 0855 PM 03/11 AWOS ...Ohio... ...Allen County... 2 WNW Westminster 0.82 in 0853 PM 03/11 AWOS ...Fulton County... 4.6 SW Morenci (R2) (R2) 0.64 in 0800 PM 03/11 COOP ...Paulding County... Payne 5.2 S 0.58 in 1000 AM 03/11 COCORAHS ...Van Wert County... 1 WNW Convoy 0.74 in 0850 PM 03/11 AWS 2 N Wetsel 0.36 in 0850 PM 03/11 AWS Van Wert County 0.16 in 0855 PM 03/11 AWOS ...Williams County... 3 S Nettle Lake 1.04 in 0850 PM 03/11 AWS Observations are collected from a variety of sources with varying equipment and exposures. We thank all volunteer weather observers for their dedication. Not all data listed are considered official.
Radar
Images from Starke County Tornado
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| Reflectivity at 8:19 CDT as the tornado started in Starke County | Storm Relative Velocity at 8:19 CDT as the tornado started in Starke County | Storm Relative Velocity at 8:31 CDT showing strong rotation | Correlation Coefficient at 8:31 CDT showing a strong tornadic debris signature |
Environment
The discrete supercell that tracked from northern Illinois into northwest Indiana and caused significant impacts rode the surface based CAPE gradient along the warm side of a stalled frontal boundary on the evening of March 10th (Figures 1 & 2). Around the time the supercell was moving into Starke County, the significant tornado parameter (EF2+ intensity tornadoes) was 2 (Figure 3). This does NOT mean a tornado of this magnitude occurred but shows the environment is favorable for this type of intensity. There was 40-50 kts of shear (Figure 5) from 0-6 km (Figure 4).
There were several MDs issued from both SPC and from WPC from Tuesday evening through Wednesday morning (March 10-11) to account for the severe threats and flooding concerns (Figures 10 through 17). As for the heavy rainfall and flooding threats that developed overnight, precipitable water values and 850mb moisture noticeably increased after sunset on March 10th (Figures 7 & 8). The 850mb moisture transport vectors showed low level flow parallel to the southeastward sinking frontal boundary and increasing moisture advection from the Gulf.
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| Figure 1: WPC Surface Analysis at 00Z March 11th (8 PM EDT/7 PM CDT) | Figure 2: Surface based CAPE as of 01Z March 11th (9 PM EDT/8 PM CDT) | Figure 3: Significant Tornado Parameter as of 01Z March 11th (9 PM EDT/8 PM CDT) |
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| Figure 4: 0-6 km shear as of 01Z March 11th (9 PM EDT/8 PM CDT) | Figure 5: 0-1 km shear as of 01Z March 11th (9 PM EDT/8 PM CDT) | Figure 6: 300mb analysis as of 01Z March 11th (9 PM EDT/8 PM CDT) |
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| Figure 7: Precipitable water and 850mb moisture transport as of 01Z March 11th (9 PM EDT/8 PM CDT) | Figure 8: Precipitable water and 850mb moisture transport as of 06Z March 11th (2 AM EDT/1 AM CDT) | Figure 9: 500mb analysis as of 01Z March 11th (9 PM EDT/8 PM CDT) |
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| Figure 10: WPC mesoscale discussion #0056 issued at 4:30 PM CDT March 10th | Figure 11: WPC mesoscale discussion #0058 issued at 10:25 PM CDT March 10th | Figure 12: WPC mesoscale discussion #0060 issued at 3:52 AM CDT March 11th |
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| Figure 13: SPC Mesoscale Discussion #0187 issued at 1:55 PM CDT March 10th | Figure 14: SPC Mesoscale Discussion #0191 issued at 4:55 PM CDT March 10th | Figure 15: SPC Mesoscale Discussion #0194 issued at 6:29 PM CDT March 10th |
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| Figure 16: SPC Mesoscale Discussion #0200 issued at 8:51 PM CDT March 10th | Figure 17: SPC Mesoscale Discussion #0205 issued at 12:58 AM March 11th | Figure 18: Tornado Watch #37 issued at 6:47 PM CDT March 10th |
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