A regional tornado outbreak struck northern Indiana on Thursday evening, June 11, 2026, as part of a larger severe-weather outbreak that affected Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan. The storm system produced multiple tornadoes across Indiana, including significant damage in Merrillville, Hobart, Kouts, and Bristol in Elkhart County.
In Northwest Indiana, an EF-2 tornado tracked from Merrillville to Hobart with estimated peak winds of 120 mph. The tornado traveled approximately 6.45 miles, reached a maximum width of 700 yards, and caused major residential and structural damage through central Merrillville before lifting near southwest Hobart. The most heavily affected Merrillville areas included neighborhoods near W 64th Avenue, 61st Place, 61st Avenue, Grand Place, and areas near Andrean High School. More than 200 homes and buildings were reported damaged or destroyed in Merrillville, with roofs torn off, walls damaged, trees and power lines downed, and streets blocked by debris.
In northern Elkhart County, an EF-2 tornado struck the Bristol area later that evening. The National Weather Service reported estimated peak winds of 115 mph, a path length of approximately 6.12 miles, and a maximum width of 100 yards. Damage was reported from the area northeast of Elkhart toward Bristol, including Hyde Park Drive, Stanford Drive, Pheasant Ridge, County Road 19, Baltimore Oriole Drive, and Songbird Way. One home lost a garage and sustained significant roof damage, another home suffered a near-complete roof loss, and numerous trees were uprooted or snapped.
The broader June 11 outbreak produced dozens of tornadoes across the region, including several strong tornadoes in northern Indiana. The strongest Indiana tornado in the outbreak was the EF-3 Kouts tornado, which caused severe damage in southern Porter County and continued into La Porte County before weakening. Straight-line wind damage, downed trees, power outages, and blocked roads were also reported across parts of northern Indiana.
Serve Source is expanding this event from the original Merrillville tornado page to reflect the broader northern Indiana tornado outbreak and to include partner response activity in Elkhart County.
EF Ratings:
Merrillville to Hobart: EF-2
Bristol / Elkhart County: EF-2
Kouts / Porter County into La Porte County: EF-3
More than 200 homes and buildings were reported damaged or destroyed in Merrillville. In Elkhart County, multiple homes were damaged in the Bristol area, including one home with a garage destroyed and significant roof damage and another home with a near-complete roof loss. A full countywide structure-damage total for Elkhart County has not yet been confirmed.
The storms downed trees and power lines, blocked streets, damaged homes and buildings, and caused power outages across affected communities. Cleanup and debris removal remain ongoing in the hardest-hit neighborhoods.
Current and emerging needs may include chainsaw work, heavy equipment support, debris removal, roof tarping, muck-out or water-damage cleanup where flooding occurred, help with damaged personal property, survivor assistance, and coordination with local emergency management.
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