The Chicago area will likely escape the brunt of a system bringing strong to severe thunderstorms to the Great Plains on Tuesday, but pockets of gusty winds could damage trees, according to the National Weather Service.
This system has already triggered tornado watches in parts of Iowa and Missouri, with gusty winds and heavy rain also possible with these storms as they track southeast.
As midnight approaches, this system is expected to approach the Chicago area, but storms are expected to dissipate, leaving only a chance for scattered showers if precipitation falls.
The wind threat will still be present, however, with wind gusts of 30 to 40 miles per hour possible overnight, according to NWS officials. “Isolated corridors” of strong winds could also occur, with some gusts even exceeding 50 miles per hour.
Wind gusts of this speed can potentially damage trees and power lines, with authorities warning residents to be wary of changing conditions between midnight and 4 a.m.
Windy conditions are expected to persist in the area for several days, but conditions are expected to remain mostly dry Wednesday and through most of Thursday, with several chances of rain affecting the region heading into the weekend.
Stay tuned to the NBC 5 Storm Team for all the latest weather news and information.
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