March 30, 2025: Line of Storms Produces Widespread Wind Damage and One Tornado in Northwest Indiana

Event Summary Graphic

(Click to enlarge loop)

Visible satellite and radar loop (courtesy of the College of DuPage: https://weather.cod.edu/satrad).

Overview
Storm Survey Information
Storm Reports
Additional Info

Overview

Thunderstorms developed during the early afternoon hours on Sunday, March 30th in central Illinois and quickly congealed and intensified into a broken line as they moved east of Interstate 55.

Numerous wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph were recorded by automated surface observation equipment, with a few in excess of 75 to 80 mph. The Porter County Municipal Airport (KVPZ) Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) in Valparaiso, IN recorded an 81 mph wind gust before the station failed.

Widespread wind damage occurred with the strongest storms, particularly across parts of Lake, Porter, Newton, Jasper, and Benton counties in northwest Indiana.

Storm Survey Information

Lake Village, Indiana Tornado

(click on image to enlarge)

Summary:

A National Weather Service storm survey determined an EF-0 tornado with peak winds near 75 mph developed near W 600 N about 2 miles west of US Route 41 where it uprooted several trees near a barn. It then tracked northeast, snapping several trees along W 700 N before crossing Route 41. Sporadic tree and limb damage was noted in a northeast path until the tornado lifted north of State Road 10 and N 75 W.

Eastern Lake and Porter County Straight-Line Winds

Summary:

Based on an in-person damage survey, information collected from local Emergency Management officials, and reports collected via social media and from trained storm spotters, widespread damaging winds ranging from 70 to locally 90 mph impacted a wide area starting in eastern Lake County northeastward through central and northern Porter County in northwestern Indiana. Snapped and uprooted trees, downed power lines, and damage to farm buildings were noted within the wide swath of wind damage. The most intense damage occurred in and around Valparaiso, especially near and south of US-30, where several structures lost roofing materials, a semi truck was rolled onto a person leading to a fatality, and trees were snapped and felled onto homes. An 81 mph wind gust from the southwest was measured by NWS-maintained observing equipment at Porter County Regional Airport (KVPZ) before power failed, as well. Radar data depicted a signature indicative of powerful non-tornadic winds in the regions where damage was noted.

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

When a tornado is known to have occurred but does not cause damage to any qualified damage indicators, or if the only damage is located in an area that is inaccessible to NWS storm survey personnel, then a tornado may be assigned the EF-Unknown (EF-U) rating.

Storm Reports

Preliminary Map of Storm Reports

Preliminary Storm Report Map

Preliminary National Storm Reports

Interactive Map of Preliminary Storm Reports

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Chicago IL
650 PM CDT Mon Mar 31 2025

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

0133 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     4 S Pingree Grove       42.01N 88.42W
03/30/2025                   Kane               IL   Emergency Mngr

            Kane County EMA reports fence damage along
            Muirhead Road west of Elgin. Time estimated
            by radar.

0137 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 ESE Pingree Grove     42.06N 88.38W
03/30/2025                   Kane               IL   Emergency Mngr

            Kane County EMA reports tree blocking
            eastbound lanes of Highland Avenue at Coombs
            Road west of Elgin. Time estimated by radar.

0143 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Sleepy Hollow           42.09N 88.31W
03/30/2025                   Kane               IL   Public

            Photo shows evergreen tree uprooted near
            Sleepy Hollow. Relayed by broadcast media,
            time estimated by radar.

0146 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 NNW Carpentersville   42.13N 88.26W
03/30/2025                   Kane               IL   Emergency Mngr

            Kane County EMA reports power lines downed
            along Arrow Street and Austin Avenue in
            Carpentersville. Time estimated by radar.

0146 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 NE Elgin              42.05N 88.27W
03/30/2025                   Kane               IL   Emergency Mngr

            Kane County EMA reports broken tree branch
            on power lines near Fremont Street and Hill
            Avenue in Elgin. Time estimated by radar.

0148 PM     Hail             1 SSE Algonquin         42.15N 88.28W
03/30/2025  M0.75 Inch       Kane               IL   Public

            Mostly pea size hail with a few stones to
            penny size in southeastern Algonquin.

0152 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 ENE Trout Valley      42.20N 88.24W
03/30/2025                   McHenry            IL   Emergency Mngr

            Report of downed power lines that caused a
            fire. The cause of the downed power lines
            was reported to be the thunderstorm. Time
            and location estimated by radar.

0158 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     3 SW Crescent City      40.74N 87.90W
03/30/2025  M66 MPH          Iroquois           IL   Public

            Private weather station KILGILMA8 reported
            66 mph gust southwest of Crescent City.

0209 PM     Hail             1 E Grayslake           42.34N 88.02W
03/30/2025  M0.70 Inch       Lake               IL   Public

            Public report of hail up to 0.7 inch
            diameter near Grays Lake.

0217 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     3 ESE Beaverville       40.94N 87.60W
03/30/2025  M60 MPH          Iroquois           IL   Public

            Private weather station reported 60 mph gust
            southeast of Beaverville.

0224 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     3 ESE Momence           41.14N 87.61W
03/30/2025  M62 MPH          Kankakee           IL   Public

            Private weather station reported 62 mph gust
            southeast of Momence.

0226 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     3 SSW Fowler            40.58N 87.35W
03/30/2025  M61 MPH          Benton             IN   Mesonet

            Davis weather station.

0226 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 ENE Boswell           40.52N 87.37W
03/30/2025                   Benton             IN   Emergency Mngr

            Photo shows metal roof panels peeled from
            farm outbuilding at Benton County
            Fairgrounds. Time estimated by radar.

0227 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     3 E Boswell             40.51N 87.32W
03/30/2025  M59 MPH          Benton             IN   Public

            Private weather station reported 59 mph gust
            between Boswell and Oxford.

0228 PM     Tornado          4 SSW Lake Village      41.08N 87.49W
03/30/2025                   Newton             IN   NWS Storm Survey

            A National Weather Service storm survey
            determined an EF-0 tornado with peak winds
            near 75 mph developed near W 600 N about 2
            miles west of US Route 41 where it uprooted
            several trees near a barn. It then tracked
            northeast, snapping several trees along W
            700 N before crossing Route 41. Sporadic
            tree and limb damage was noted in a
            northeast path until the tornado lifted
            north of State Road 10 and N 75 W.

0229 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 WNW Brook             40.88N 87.40W
03/30/2025  M59 MPH          Newton             IN   Public

            Private weather station reported 59 mph gust
            near Brook.

0230 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     4 SW Goodland           40.73N 87.36W
03/30/2025  M57 MPH          Benton             IN   Public

            Private weather station recorded 57 mph gust
            between Earl park and Goodland.

0230 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 W Wadena              40.69N 87.32W
03/30/2025                   Benton             IN   Emergency Mngr

            Corrects previous report from 2 N Fowler.
            Benton County EMA reports semi tipped over
            on IN-55 north of Fowler near 600N Road.
            Time estimated by radar, location
            approximate.

0231 PM     Hail             1 WNW Tinley Park       41.58N 87.82W
03/30/2025  M0.70 Inch       Cook               IL   Trained Spotter

            Dime size hail reported in Tinley Park near
            84th Avenue and 171st Street. Time estimated
            by radar.

0231 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 E Orland Hills        41.59N 87.83W
03/30/2025                   Cook               IL   Emergency Mngr

            1.5 inch diameter tree branch broken near
            Chadbourn Drive and 88th Avenue in Orland
            Hills. Time estimated by radar.

0234 PM     Hail             2 SE St. John           41.42N 87.44W
03/30/2025  E0.75 Inch       Lake               IN   Public

            Relayed via mping.

0235 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     5 ESE Wadena            40.65N 87.19W
03/30/2025  M62 MPH          Benton             IN   Public

            Private weather station reported 62 mph gust
            east of Fowler.

0236 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 WNW Roselawn          41.15N 87.33W
03/30/2025                   Newton             IN   Trained Spotter

            Trained spotter reports numerous trees
            uprooted and branches broken along IN-55
            north of IN-10. Time estimated by radar,
            location approximate.

0237 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 E Thayer              41.17N 87.31W
03/30/2025                   Newton             IN   Trained Spotter

            Trained spotter reports 12 inch diameter
            tree downed near county 400 E and county
            1200 N. Time estimated by radar.

0238 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 NNW Remington         40.79N 87.17W
03/30/2025  M63 MPH          Jasper             IN   Public

            Private weather station reported 63 mph gust
            north of Remington.

0238 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 E Roselawn            41.14N 87.28W
03/30/2025                   Newton             IN   Public

            Trained spotter reports bent power poles in
            Roselawn along IN-10 3 miles east of IN-55.
            Time estimated by radar, location
            approximate.

0239 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Remington               40.76N 87.16W
03/30/2025  M62 MPH          Jasper             IN   Public

            Private weather station reported 62 mph gust
            in Remington. Multiple other private weather
            stations reported gusts 55-60 mph in
            vicinity.

0239 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Steger                  41.48N 87.63W
03/30/2025                   Cook               IL   Emergency Mngr

            Roof blown off building near Sauk Trail and
            Holeman Avenue in Steger. Time estimated by
            radar.

0239 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Lowell                  41.29N 87.42W
03/30/2025                   Lake               IN   Emergency Mngr

            Lake County EMA reports power poles snapped
            in Lowell. Time estimated by radar, location
            approximate.

0240 PM     Hail             1 SW Evergreen Park     41.71N 87.72W
03/30/2025  M0.75 Inch       Cook               IL   Public

            Relayed via mping.

0240 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 SSW West Pullman - Ch 41.67N 87.64W
03/30/2025                   Cook               IL   Public

            Public report of small tree branches downed
            near 12th Place and Parnell Avenue in West
            Pullman Community area of Chicago. Time
            estimated by radar.

0244 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 E Pullman - Chicago   41.71N 87.58W
03/30/2025                   Cook               IL   Public

            A few scattered reports of tree branches
            downed in the East Side, Calumet Heights,
            Roseland, Burnside, Pullman, South Deering,
            and Riverdale community areas of Chicago.
            Relayed by Chicago311, time estimated by
            radar.

0245 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     1 WSW Lynwood           41.52N 87.56W
03/30/2025  M74 MPH          Cook               IL   Public

            Private weather station reported reported 74
            mph gust near Ford Heights.

0245 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     4 WSW Hebron            41.29N 87.28W
03/30/2025                   Lake               IN   Trained Spotter

            Photo shows construction trailer overturned
            and broken into pieces along IN-2 near Clay
            Street east of Lowell. Time estimated by
            radar.

0246 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     1 ESE Hebron            41.32N 87.19W
03/30/2025  M61 MPH          Porter             IN   Mesonet

            Measured at Davis station WWTP.

0248 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     5 E Rensselaer          40.95N 87.06W
03/30/2025  M62 MPH          Jasper             IN   Public

            Davis station measurement.

0248 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 SW Dyer               41.49N 87.52W
03/30/2025                   Lake               IN   Emergency Mngr

            Lake County EMA reports power poles snapped
            in Dyer. Time estimated by radar, location
            approximate.

0249 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     3 SSW Stoutsburg        41.15N 87.14W
03/30/2025  M56 MPH          Jasper             IN   Public

            Private weather station reported 56 mph gust
            southeast of DeMotte.

0249 PM     Marine Tstm Wind 1 SE South Chicago      41.73N 87.54W
03/30/2025  M52 MPH          Cook               IL   C-Man Station

            Buoy station CMTI2 Calumet Harbor.

0250 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     4 WNW Remington         40.78N 87.22W
03/30/2025  M71 MPH          Jasper             IN   Public

            Private weather station reported 71 mph gust
            between Goodland and Remington.

0250 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Highland                41.55N 87.45W
03/30/2025                   Lake               IN   Emergency Mngr

            Lake County EMA reports tree or large branch
            on house in Highland. Time estimated by
            radar, location approximate.

0250 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 NNW Hammond           41.61N 87.51W
03/30/2025                   Lake               IN   Emergency Mngr

            Lake County EMA reports power poles snapped
            in Hammond. Time estimated by radar,
            location approximate.

0250 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 SE Hammond            41.58N 87.49W
03/30/2025                   Lake               IN   Public

            Report of several trees down some over 2
            inches in diameter. Time estimated from
            radar.

0251 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     5 S Baileys Corner      40.99N 87.01W
03/30/2025  M75 MPH          Jasper             IN   Mesonet

            Davis station.

0251 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     1 SSE Munster           41.54N 87.50W
03/30/2025  M60 MPH          Lake               IN   Public

            Private weather station reported 60 mph gust
            in Munster.

0251 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 W Lakes of the Four S 41.41N 87.25W
03/30/2025                   Lake               IN   Broadcast Media

            Photo shows shingle damage to house in
            Latitude subdivision west of Lake of the
            Four Seasons in Winfield. Time estimated by
            radar.

0252 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 SSE Lakes of the Four 41.38N 87.20W
03/30/2025                   Porter             IN   Emergency Mngr

            Tree branches broken and barn damaged near
            IN-2 and county 350S Road. Time estimated by
            radar.

0253 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     1 NW East Chicago       41.65N 87.47W
03/30/2025  M60 MPH          Lake               IN   Mesonet

            WxFlow station Cline Avenue Bridge.

0253 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 ESE Lakes of the Four 41.40N 87.16W
03/30/2025                   Porter             IN   Public

            Trained spotter reports 4 power poles
            snapped and downed power lines near Boone
            Grove High School southwest of Valparaiso.
            Time estimated by radar.

0253 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 WSW East Chicago      41.63N 87.50W
03/30/2025                   Lake               IN   Emergency Mngr

            Lake County EMA reports power poles snapped
            in East Chicago. Time estimated by radar,
            location approximate.

0253 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 NW Boone Grove        41.39N 87.16W
03/30/2025                   Porter             IN   Trained Spotter

            Trained spotter reports large branches
            broken near county 300S Road and county 500W
            Road southwest of Valparaiso. Time estimated
            by radar.

0253 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 NE Lakes of the Four  41.42N 87.22W
03/30/2025                   Porter             IN   Public

            Public report of shingle damage near Lake of
            the Four Seasons. Time estimated by radar.

0255 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Gary Airport            41.62N 87.41W
03/30/2025  M74 MPH          Lake               IN   AWOS

            Gary Airport GYY reported 74 mph gust. Winds
            sustained at 48 mph for 10 minutes.

0255 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 WNW Rensselaer        40.95N 87.18W
03/30/2025  M59 MPH          Jasper             IN   AWOS

            Corrects previous report from 2 WNW
            Rensselaer. Rensselaer Jasper County Airport
            RZL AWOS reported 59 mph gust.

0255 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Gary                    41.59N 87.35W
03/30/2025                   Lake               IN   Emergency Mngr

            Lake County EMA reports power poles snapped
            in Gary. Time estimated by radar, location
            approximate.

0255 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Kouts                   41.32N 87.03W
03/30/2025                   Porter             IN   Law Enforcement

            Power lines downed in Kouts. Time estimated
            by radar, location approximate.

0256 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     3 N Lakes of the Four S 41.46N 87.21W
03/30/2025  M75 MPH          Porter             IN   Public

            Private weather station reported 75 mph gust
            northeast of Winfield.

0256 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     5 S Valparaiso          41.41N 87.05W
03/30/2025                   Porter             IN   Trained Spotter

            Photo shows metal roof panels peeled from
            farm outbuilding along county 75E Road south
            of Valparaiso. Time estimated by radar.

0258 PM     Marine Tstm Wind 3 NE Navy Pier          41.92N 87.57W
03/30/2025  M50 MPH          LMZ741             IL   C-Man Station

            Measured at the Harrison-Dever crib.

0300 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     4 ESE Valparaiso        41.45N 87.00W
03/30/2025  M81 MPH          Porter             IN   AWOS

            Valparaiso Porter County Airport VPZ AWOS
            reported 81 mph gust prior to data outage.

0300 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Valparaiso              41.47N 87.07W
03/30/2025  M80 MPH          Porter             IN   Public

            Trained spotter reported 80 mph gust in
            Valparaiso.

0300 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     4 SSE Kouts             41.26N 87.00W
03/30/2025  M63 MPH          Porter             IN   Trained Spotter

            Trained weather spotter reported 63 mph gust
            on handheld anemometer on county 1200S
            southeast of Kouts. Time estimated by radar.

0300 PM     Hail             4 SSE Kouts             41.26N 87.00W
03/30/2025  M0.88 Inch       Porter             IN   Public

            Trained spotter reported nickel size hail on
            county 1200S Road southeast of Kouts. Time
            estimated by radar.

0300 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 SE Valparaiso         41.44N 87.02W
03/30/2025                   Porter             IN   Emergency Mngr

            *** 1 FATAL ***
            A semi truck rolled onto a person, leading
            to a fatality.

0301 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 NE Valparaiso         41.49N 87.05W
03/30/2025                   Porter             IN   Public

            Public report of broken tree branches in
            northern Valparaiso. Time estimated by
            radar.

0302 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     4 NNE Teft              41.25N 86.95W
03/30/2025  M64 MPH          Porter             IN   Public

            Private weather station reported 64 mph gust
            southeast of Kouts.

0304 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 NNE Kouts             41.34N 87.02W
03/30/2025  M70 MPH          Porter             IN   Public

            Private weather station KINKOUTS6 reported
            70 mph gust north of Kouts.

0304 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 ENE South Haven       41.55N 87.11W
03/30/2025                   Porter             IN   Trained Spotter

            Trained spotter reported multiple 6 inch
            diameter branches broken along US-6 between
            Porter and Valparaiso. Time estimated by
            radar, location approximate.

0324 PM     Marine Tstm Wind 3 NE Beverly Shores     41.73N 86.94W
03/30/2025  M78 MPH          LMZ745             IN   C-Man Station

            Measured at the Michigan City GLERL site.

Additional Information

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Additional event recaps can be found on the NWS Chicago Past Events Page