A large, damaging tornado tore through parts of northwest Indiana just after 7 p.m. Thursday, cutting across neighborhoods near Merrillville and Hobart and touching off multiple tornado warnings in Lake and Porter counties. Doppler radar showed signatures consistent with debris being lofted into the storm, and first responders were working through the night to check for damage. As of the earliest reports from local officials and broadcasters, there were no immediate reports of injuries.
Local Reports And Video Captured The Storm
According to NBC Chicago, the National Weather Service said the tornado roared through parts of northwest Indiana while viewers sent in dramatic sky footage and reports, including a wall cloud spotted over nearby St. John. NBC Chicago also reported that Doppler radar showed debris signatures suggesting the storm made ground contact in more than one location as it tracked east from Illinois into Indiana.
What The National Weather Service Is Saying
Per the National Weather Service, tornado warnings were in effect for portions of Lake and Porter counties while the storm moved through the area. NWS survey crews are expected to conduct damage assessments in the coming days to pin down the tornado's exact path and intensity. The agency uses radar-indicated debris signatures as an early clue that a tornado likely touched down, then follows up with ground and aerial surveys to confirm the damage and assign an intensity rating.
Safety, Damage And Next Steps
Local emergency and utility crews were reported to be canvassing neighborhoods to clear roads and check for downed lines, and residents in the affected communities are urged to avoid any fallen wires and follow instructions from municipal and emergency-management channels. Officials typically ask anyone with photos, video or storm-damage reports to share them with local authorities or the NWS to help with the post-storm assessment.
This story will be updated as NWS damage surveys and local officials release more details about the track and impact of the tornado. For now, the earliest reports highlight the radar-confirmed nature of the event and the absence of immediate reports of injury.
