Two killed as tornadoes sweep across US Midwest in latest extreme weather

‘Supercell’ thunderstorms hit Illinois and Indiana, after eight people killed by tornadoes in US Midwest last week.Published On 11 Mar 2026Two people have been killed in tornadoes in the Midwest region of the United States amid a spate of extreme weather, according to authorities.At least four tornadoes touched down as intense “supercell” thunderstorms swept across northern Illinois and northwestern Indiana on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3At least 21 dead after storms hit US states of Missouri and Kentuckylist 2 of 3Death toll from Texas floods rises to 82, dozens still missinglist 3 of 3Cranes topple during deadly tornado in northern Franceend of list“Supercells” are the rarest form of thunderstorms. They are known to be particularly devastating for their prolonged durations and their “high propensity to produce severe weather, including damaging winds, very large hail, and sometimes weak to violent tornadoes”, according to the NWS.In Indiana, local officials said an elderly couple had been killed when a tornado hit their home in the town of Lake Village.Several residents in the wider Newton County were rescued by emergency responders, as the storm knocked down at least 70 utility poles and left some roads impassable.Toppled trees and utility poles lie across a road in the aftermath of a powerful storm in Lake Village, Indiana [Nam Y Huh/The Associated Press]In a video posted to social media late Tuesday, Sheriff Shannon Cothran warned people about trying to access the damaged areas.“Please do not come here. Do not try to help right now,” Cothran said, standing in front of the couple’s destroyed home.Parts of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio remained on tornado watch into the afternoon.About 40km (25 miles) east of Lake Village, another tornado touched down in Kankakee County, Illinois, late Tuesday.