During the afternoon and evening of the 31st, a wave of severe thunderstorms produced numerous tornadoes, severe hail, and extensive wind damage across northwestern Indiana. A total of 23 tornadoes were confirmed across the state. The NWS Chicago office tied a record for the most tornadoes to occur in a single calendar day within the office's county warning area with 22, 5 of which occurred in Indiana. Two EF-2 tornadoes occurred in Benton County and one other in Lee County, Illinois. Some of the more notable damage includes a few homes with walls and portions of roofing blown away, a wind turbine that had been snapped in half, and wind turbine blades thrown as far as 600 yards, all a result of the two EF-2 tornadoes in Benton County.

Tornado in PORTER, INDIANA
From 31-MAR-23 20:01:00 to 31-MAR-23 20:02:00 (CST-6)
Location: SEDLEY
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This brief tornado dropped in Union Township along W County Road 350 N just west of N County Road 650 W a couple of miles northwest of Shorewood Forest. It would track just over a half a mile to the east-southeast before lifting soon after crossing N County Road 625 W. Minor damage was noted to trees, outbuildings, and some farm equipment.

Tornado in BENTON, INDIANA
From 31-MAR-23 20:33:00 to 31-MAR-23 20:44:00 (EST-5)
Location: OXFORD
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The tornado touched down northwest of Oxford near the intersection of S County Road 200 E and E County Road 500 S. It tracked northeast for over 10 miles before crossing into southwest White County at E County Road 100 S. It lifted just east of South County Road 850 W at S US Hwy 231 in rural White County. The storm primarily downed trees and damaged farm outbuildings. However, it also caused damage to a few homes. The tornado is believed to have reached EF-2 intensity with wind speeds near 115 mph after crossing S County Road 875 E where large portions of a roof and some siding were torn off of a home.

Hail in LAKE, INDIANA
From 31-MAR-23 15:54:00 to 31-MAR-23 15:54:00 (CST-6)
Location: LAKES OF THE FOUR SEASONS
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in PORTER, INDIANA
From 31-MAR-23 15:56:00 to 31-MAR-23 15:56:00 (CST-6)
Location: VALPARAISO
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorm Wind in LAKE, INDIANA
From 31-MAR-23 19:53:00 to 31-MAR-23 19:53:00 (CST-6)
Location: MERRILLVILLE
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

A photo shared via Twitter shows five power poles either leaning or snapped due to the wind along US Rt. 30 just east of Taft St. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar.

Thunderstorm Wind in LAKE, INDIANA
From 31-MAR-23 19:54:00 to 31-MAR-23 19:54:00 (CST-6)
Location: CROWN POINT
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Several instances of tree damage were reported in Crown Point as well as a fence that had been blown down. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar.

Thunderstorm Wind in PORTER, INDIANA
From 31-MAR-23 20:08:00 to 31-MAR-23 20:08:00 (CST-6)
Location: BURLINGTON BEACH
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Several trees and power lines were blown down northeast of Valparaiso along Vale Park Rd. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar.

Hail in PORTER, INDIANA
From 31-MAR-23 15:55:00 to 31-MAR-23 15:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: VALPARAISO
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A photo shared of hail in Valparaiso showed the largest hailstones were approximately quarter sized.

Tornado in LAKE, INDIANA
From 31-MAR-23 19:53:00 to 31-MAR-23 19:56:00 (CST-6)
Location: MERRILLVILLE
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This tornado touched down north of U.S. Route 30 near Grant St. in Merrillville and then tracked eastward for roughly 3.3 miles before lifting over the far south side of Hobart along E 73rd Ave just east of Colorado St. The tornado blew out windows and tore sections of roofs off of multiple homes where its winds were able to compromise the residences' garage doors. The tornado also caused damage to power lines and several trees along its path.

Thunderstorm Wind in LAKE, INDIANA
From 31-MAR-23 19:53:00 to 31-MAR-23 19:53:00 (CST-6)
Location: NORTH HAYDEN
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A personal weather station measured a 62 mph gust on the corner of 173rd and Schubert Streets in Lowell.

Thunderstorm Wind in LAKE, INDIANA
From 31-MAR-23 19:54:00 to 31-MAR-23 19:54:00 (CST-6)
Location: CEDAR LAKE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter estimated 60 mph winds as well as penny size hail.

Thunderstorm Wind in LAKE, INDIANA
From 31-MAR-23 20:01:00 to 31-MAR-23 20:01:00 (CST-6)
Location: CROWN POINT
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter estimated 50-55 mph sustained winds with 65-70 mph gusts at 129th Ave and Delaware St southeast of Crown Point.

Thunderstorm Wind in JASPER, INDIANA
From 31-MAR-23 20:13:00 to 31-MAR-23 20:13:00 (CST-6)
Location: FAIR OAKS
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A report was received of trees down east-northeast of Fair Oaks. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar.

Thunderstorm Wind in JASPER, INDIANA
From 31-MAR-23 20:17:00 to 31-MAR-23 20:17:00 (CST-6)
Location: WHEATFIELD
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

A tree had been blown down across W County Road 1000 N east of N County Road 200 W southwest of Wheatfield. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar.

Tornado in BENTON, INDIANA
From 31-MAR-23 20:33:00 to 31-MAR-23 20:42:00 (EST-5)
Location: SWANINGTON
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This tornado touched down near the intersection of E County Road 200 S and S Adeway Rd south of Fowler. The tornado tracked to the northeast for nearly 12 miles. Along the way, it damaged a few homes and multiple wind turbines. The tornado reached its maximum intensity just east of Fowler where it snapped the base of a wind turbine about halfway up and threw the blades of wind turbines as far as 600 yards to the northeast. Wind speeds during this time are estimated to be around 120 mph. The storm also downed trees and power poles. It lifted near N County Road 800 E and E County Road 600 N in northeast Benton County.

Thunderstorm Wind in PORTER, INDIANA
From 31-MAR-23 20:11:00 to 31-MAR-23 20:11:00 (CST-6)
Location: (VPZ) PORTER COUNTY REGIONAL AIRPORT
Magnitude: 64.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Thunderstorm Wind in JASPER, INDIANA
From 31-MAR-23 20:22:00 to 31-MAR-23 20:22:00 (CST-6)
Location: DEMOTTE
Magnitude: 68.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter measured a 78 mph gust and reported power poles down in the De Motte area.

Tornado in BENTON, INDIANA
From 31-MAR-23 20:41:00 to 31-MAR-23 20:46:00 (EST-5)
Location: WADENA
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The tornado dropped south of Goodland in rural Benton County south of E County Road 800 N east of N County Road 200 E. The storm tracked northeast and crossed into Jasper County at E County Road 900 N southwest of Remington. It lifted east of town north of W US Hwy 24 just west of N County Road 1200 W. Damage mostly consisted of snapped power poles, downed trees, and damage to small farm outbuildings.

Tornado in JASPER, INDIANA
From 31-MAR-23 19:46:00 to 31-MAR-23 19:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: REMINGTON
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The tornado dropped south of Goodland in rural Benton County south of E County Road 800 N east of N County Road 200 E. The storm tracked northeast and crossed into Jasper County at E County Road 900 N southwest of Remington. It lifted east of town north of W US Hwy 24 just west of N County Road 1200 W. Six semi trucks were reported flipped over on I-65 near the junction at US Hwy 24. Additionally, a trailer with a tractor in it had rolled over several times in a field off of US Hwy 24 just west of I-65. Damage otherwise mostly consisted of snapped power poles, downed trees, and damage to small farm outbuildings.

Thunderstorm Wind in JASPER, INDIANA
From 31-MAR-23 19:48:00 to 31-MAR-23 19:48:00 (CST-6)
Location: REMINGTON
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Structural damage was reported at FBi Buildings, Inc near S County Road 380 W and W County Road 1800 S. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar.

Thunderstorm Wind in PORTER, INDIANA
From 31-MAR-23 19:56:00 to 31-MAR-23 20:03:00 (CST-6)
Location: LAKE STATION
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorms resulted in a narrow corridor of damage extending from southern Lake Station in Lake County across southern Portage, roughly along Stone Ave between US Rt 6 and County Hwy N 450 W. On top of numerous trees damaged, windows were blown out of Fegely Middle School in Portage as well as nearby homes, aluminum trim was peeled back from a roof, and a utility was pole was snapped. Time and wind magnitude were estimated based on radar.

Thunderstorm Wind in LAKE, INDIANA
From 31-MAR-23 19:55:00 to 31-MAR-23 19:56:00 (CST-6)
Location: LAKE STATION
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Thunderstorms resulted in a narrow corridor of damage extending from southern Lake Station across southern Portage in Porter County. The extent of the damage was only to trees while in Lake County, but would go onto to include blown out windows and a damaged roof in Porter County. Time and wind magnitude were estimated based on radar.