Severe Weather Strikes Illinois with Tornado Warnings and Hail

CHICAGO, Ill. — Severe weather swept across Illinois on March 19, 2025, prompting multiple tornado warnings and watches from the National Weather Service as storms intensified throughout the afternoon and evening.

The storms led to at least a dozen tornado warnings, primarily affecting communities in central and northern Illinois. Forecasters indicated that approximately 53 million people faced an increased risk of severe thunderstorms stretching from the Midwest to the Deep South.

Gary, Indiana, experienced significant damage as winds reached 75 mph, uprooting trees and damaging homes shortly after the evening rush hour. “The City of Gary confirms that residents reported the sighting of a funnel cloud near 21st Avenue and Hendricks,” city officials stated. They added that emergency response teams were deployed to assist residents impacted by the storm.

Warnings and watches extended to areas including Joliet, New Lenox, Homer Glen, and Tinley Park, as storms developed rapidly. At one point, a tornado watch covered Kendall, Kankakee, Grundy, and Will counties until 9 p.m. that evening. The National Weather Service reported pea-sized hail accompanying tornado warnings, raising concerns for local communities.

“A few tornadoes may occur, especially along and south of I-80,” the weather service warned, indicating a level 3 out of 5 tornado risk for the region. This marked a serious threat to safety, as officials advised residents to seek shelter from flying debris.

Conditions worsened throughout the day, with gusty winds and reports of hail the size of pennies and quarters. National Weather Service offices documented hail accumulating along roadways, resulting in several accidents.

The storms were part of a larger weather system affecting multiple states, with severe warnings emerging in neighboring Indiana and southern Illinois as well. Forecasters noted that while severe storms were predicted, they would not reach the intensity of an earlier outbreak that left at least 43 people dead across the South.

The day began with a winter storm impacting Nebraska and Iowa, creating blizzard conditions and subsequent power outages across those regions. A 74 mph wind gust was recorded in Lincoln, illustrating the broader impact of the weather system.

As night fell, the tornado watch for eastern Illinois was lifted, but alerts remained active due to the ongoing threat of severe weather. The National Weather Service continued to provide updates as thunderstorms developed into the evening hours, reassuring residents to remain vigilant.

Meteorologists predict that as the severe weather shifts out of Illinois, a transition to wet snow was expected overnight into March 20, highlighting the unpredictable nature of spring storms in the region.

As residents recover from the day’s chaos, officials emphasize the importance of preparedness for changing weather conditions. “We urge everyone to stay alert, as conditions can change rapidly even after official warnings have been lifted,” said R. Jason Marks, Peoria County Director of Emergency Management.