Strong Winds, Hail: Storms Spark Severe Thunderstorm Watches, Warnings in Chicago Area – NBC Chicago

A series of severe thunderstorms blew through the Chicago area Tuesday, bringing with them damaging winds and hail and sparking severe thunderstorm watches and warnings across northern Illinois and northwest Indiana.

A severe thunderstorm watch was issued Tuesday afternoon for much of northern Illinois and a watch for parts of northwest Indiana remains in effect for Kankakee County, along with Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton and Jasper counties until 9 p.m.

Track the system live here

As the storms rolled through, one cell led to a tornado warning in Will County, as a reported touch down occurred near Minooka. That warning was allowed to expire after the rotation weakened in the storm.

Severe thunderstorm warnings were issued in numerous communities, first in far northeastern Illinois and then further into the southwestern suburbs. Wind gusts of up to 70 miles per hour, tennis ball-sized hail and frequent lightning were reported with the storms as they moved through the region.

More storms are still developing across the region, but it is unlikely that they will intensify into severe storms, according to forecast models.

Though highs are expected to reach into the upper 80s Tuesday, by Wednesday, conditions drop into the mid 70s, where they look to stay for the remainder of the work week alongside dry conditions.