Most of the Chicago area faces a threat of severe weather Tuesday morning, with hail, gusty winds and even brief tornadoes possible across the region.
According to the Storm Prediction CenterNorthwest Indiana has a “slight” risk of severe weather, the second of five levels the center uses to predict severe storms.
Most of northeastern Illinois is at “marginal” risk of severe weather, the first of five levels.
According to the NBC 5 Storm Team, Monday will continue to be sunny, but a system bringing strong to severe thunderstorms to the Great Plains will make its way into Illinois overnight, paving the way for showers and thunderstorms early Tuesday morning. .
Most of this thunderstorm activity is expected to pass through the Chicago area during Tuesday morning’s commute, with possible development of thunderstorms as they spread northeast.
The main threats appear to be hail and gusty winds, but forecasters say a “brief tornado or two” cannot be ruled out.
The tornado threat is expected to increase as the system moves toward eastern Indiana and western Ohio, with those areas at an “increased” risk of severe weather Tuesday afternoon.
The Chicago area will once again face a threat of severe weather Wednesday. According to the Storm Prediction Center, most of the area will be at “marginal” risk of severe storms, but parts of Kankakee County in Illinois and Newton and Jasper counties in Indiana are at l northern end of a wide strip which is considered to present a “slight” risk.
Again, all severe weather threats are possible with developing storms, including hail and gusty winds.
Cooler temperatures are expected to settle into the region later in the week, with occasional chances of showers in the forecast.
Stay tuned to the NBC 5 Storm Team for all the latest weather news and information as the system approaches.
NBC Chicago
