CHICAGO – Parts of the Chicago area and northwest Indiana are under a Tornado Watch Tuesday evening as severe storms are expected to move in late this afternoon and continue into early Wednesday, bringing the potential for strong tornadoes, large hail and damaging winds.
Stay with FOX Chicago throughout the night for the latest real-time updates on severe weather passing through Chicagoland.
Live severe weather updates
6:00 p.m.: Large hail reported
The National Weather Service says it’s received reports of large hail, the size of golf balls to tennis balls, in the areas of Woodridge, Downers Grove, Darien and Westmont.
5:47 p.m.: Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Chicago area
The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Cook County, including Chicago, and DuPage County, until 6:45 p.m. CDT. Ping-pong ball-sized hail is possible, according to FOX Chicago meteorologist Mike Caplan.
5:43 p.m.: Midway Airport under Ground Stop
A ground stop has been issued for Midway Airport until 6:30 p.m. CDT due to severe weather in the area.
5:41 p.m.: Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued
A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for all of northern Illinois, including the Chicago area and northwest Indiana, until midnight, according to the National Weather Service.
5:40 p.m.: Livington County Severe T-Storm Warning extended
The National Weather Service has extended a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of Livington County until 5:45 p.m. The storm is capable of baseball-sized hail.
5:22 p.m.: Kankakee and Iroquois counties under Severe T-Storm Warning
The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of Kankakee and Iroquois counties until 6:00 p.m. CDT. This storm will contain tennis ball-sized hail, according to the weather service.
5:10 p.m.: Severe T-Storm Warning extended
A severe thunderstorm warning for parts of Livingston County has been extended until 5:30 p.m. CDT, according to the NWS. This storm is capable of producing tennis ball-sized hail.
5:05 p.m.: Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Chicago area
Northern Will, southwest Cook and a tiny portion of southern DuPage County are now under a severe thunderstorm warning until 6 p.m. CDT. Large hail is a primary hazard.
4:50 p.m.: Tornado Warning for Livingston County
The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Warning for Livingston County until 5:30 p.m. CDT. AT 4:47 p.m. a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Pontiac, moving east at 30 mph. Those in the areas of Pontiac, Odell and Cullom are advised to seek shelter immediately.
4:37 p.m.: Large hail impacting multiple counties
Meteorologist Mike Caplan says a severe thunderstorm with large hail is impacting parts of Kendall and Grundy counties, and another storm is hitting Livingston County with large hail and damaging gusts. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect for those locations until 5:15 p.m. CDT.
If you get caught in a hail storm while driving, the National Weather Service says to pull off the road and point your vehicle into the wind, as your windshield is the strongest window. The NWS also advised motorists to avoid parking under overpasses as this could block the flow of traffic.
4:20 p.m.: Severe Thunderstorm Warning for LaSalle County
A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect until 5 p.m. CDT for northwestern Livingston and south central LaSalle counties. At 4:14 p.m., a severe thunderstorm was located over Flanagan — about 14 miles west of Pontiac — and moving northeast at 35 mph. The storm is capable of producing ping pong ball-sized hail and wind gusts up to 60 mph.
4:00 p.m.: Tornado Watch Issued
A tornado watch has been issued for Kankakee, Grundy, LaSalle, Newton and Jasper counties in the greater Chicagoland area until 11 p.m. CT. Additional storms which can produce drenching downpours and very large hail may occur farther north anywhere in Chicagoland.
3:40 p.m.: Be Weather Ready!
Tuesday is the day to be weather ready! Download the FOX Chicago Weather app now for the latest on severe storms across Chicagoland this evening. You can also send your weather photos to FOX Chicago, right through the app, or by emailing wfldweatherphotos@fox.com.
3:32 p.m.: All hazards possible south of I-80, NWS says
Severe storms are expected this evening, ending overnight — mainly southeast of I-80. North of I-80, the main threats are large hail and flooding, according to the National Weather Service in Chicago. Along and south of I-80, all severe weather hazards are possible, including strong tornadoes. Heavy rain falling over urban areas could lead to flooding, especially across the southern Chicago metro tonight.
3:20 p.m.: Large hail possible, according to Emily Wahls
If you own a vehicle and you live in the Chicago area, FOX Chicago chief meteorologist Emily Wahls says it’d be a good idea to find a covered space to park your car. Wahls said hail stones larger than 2-inches in diameter are possible in the strongest storms this evening and tonight.
1:40 p.m.: Mike Caplan’s latest forecast
A powerful storm system is expected to bring severe weather to the Chicago area late this afternoon through the overnight hours, with threats including large hail, damaging winds, tornadoes and locally heavy rainfall. Mike Caplan’s severe weather update.
11:50 a.m.: Severe weather risk upgraded
The Storm Prediction Center has placed southern portions of the Chicagoland area under a Moderate Risk for severe weather, which is Level 4 out of 5. That level is not issued often and signals a higher-end threat.
What we know:
The window for severe weather is roughly 3 p.m. Tuesday through 1 a.m. Wednesday.
Storms could produce hail 2 inches in diameter or larger, wind gusts greater than 70 mph and heavy rain that could lead to flooding. Tornadoes are also possible, including some that could be intense and stay on the ground for longer distances. They are most likely to spawn south of I-80.
The tornado risk map shows parts of the area in a 15% to 29% probability zone. For comparison, many severe weather days in the Chicago area carry a 2% to 5% tornado probability. Officials are urging residents to take today’s threat seriously.
In Chicago, temperatures are expected to fall into the 40s by the afternoon. Forecasters are closely watching a frontal boundary that will separate cooler air from warmer air to the south. Areas that remain in the warmer air will have a better chance of seeing tornadoes.
Residents are encouraged to have multiple ways to receive severe weather alerts and to know where they would take shelter if a tornado warning is issued.
What’s next:
Conditions improve Wednesday, but it will turn colder with highs in the 40s. There is a chance rain could mix with snow, especially north of the city.
Thursday brings sunshine and highs in the upper 40s, though it is expected to become gusty Thursday night with another chance for rain. Friday will be partly sunny with highs around 50.
The weekend looks mostly cloudy with highs in the upper 40s to near 50. Rain is possible Saturday afternoon and night, and a rain-snow mix could develop Sunday.
Early next week starts mostly cloudy and much colder. Highs on Monday are expected to be in the upper 20s.
The Source: The information in this forecast came from FOX Chicago’s Emily Wahls, Kaitlin Cody, and the Storm Prediction Center.