At least five tornadoes tore through the Chicago area and northwest Indiana during a strong derecho storm on Tuesday that left damage across the region.
In addition to the three tornadoes confirmed by National Weather Service crews in the hours after the storms, officials announced on Wednesday that two more twisters were confirmed from the “catastrophic” storms.
Here’s a look at all of the tornadoes that NWS crews have confirmed as of 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
An EF-0 tornado hit Oswego
An EF-1 tornado with peak winds around 90 mph struck Wilmington in Will County
An EF-2 tornado with peak winds around 115 mph hit eastern Will County from near Monee through Crete and then into St. John, Indiana
An EF-1 tornado with peak winds around 95 mph struck southern Cook County and its border with Will County from near southern Orland Park toward Flossmoor and then to Munster, Indiana
An EF-1 tornado touched down in northeast Will County and struck Mokena and Tinley Park in its path
“Widespread destructive straight-line wind damage” was also found throughout southern Cook and eastern Will counties in Illinois and much of Lake, Porter, and northern Newton and Jasper counties in Indiana, NWS said.
An Orland Park animal hospital was forced to temporarily close its daycare facility after storms damaged a portion of the building on Tuesday.
The tornado that hit eastern Will County and continued to St. John, Indiana, was originally classified as an EF-1 tornado until survey crews found additional damage consistent with an EF-2 on Wednesday, authorities said.
Tuesday’s five tornadoes bring the total for the Chicago area in 2026 to 70 — setting an all-time record since record-keeping began. The previous record was set in 2024 when 63 twisters struck the Chicago area.
Homeowners in south suburban Country Club Hills were left picking up the pieces and counting their blessings after severe storms hit on Tuesday. Natalie Martinez reports.