An intense round of severe weather is expected across the Chicago area on Tuesday, bringing the risk of fierce winds and damaging hail.
To make sure you're prepared, here's everything you need to know about the expected storms, the greatest threats and timing.As the Chicago area braces for tornadoes and potentially dangerous winds of around 70 miles per hour, NBC 5 Storm Team Chief Meteorologist Brant Miller shares what you need to know.
An intense round of severe weather is expected across the Chicago area on Tuesday, bringing the risk of fierce winds, damaging hail and the possibility of tornadoes. The day will start off on a much different note, with warm conditions setting in and a possibility of rain.With such mild conditions, the morning drive may be seamless, but challenges could arrive for drivers on the way home. If you've thought about spending any time outdoors in the afternoon or evening, you might want to reconsider. To make sure you're prepared, here's everything you need to know about the expected storms, the greatest threats and timing.NBC 5 Storm Team Chief Meteorologist Brant Miller warns of the potential severe risk on Tuesday, which includes damaging winds, heavy rainfall and a tornado threat.Potentially severe showers and thunderstorms are slated to develop in the afternoon. The southern parts of the Chicago viewing area will be under the greatest risk for severe weather, as temperatures are expected to reach the low 70s. The tornado threat will be strongest in areas south of Interstate 80, including Kankakee and Pontiac, as well as the central Illinois cities of Bloomington, Springfield and Champaign, according to the National Weather Service. A warm front is expected to move into the area as southerly winds ramp up, meteorologists said. But the track is uncertain due to potential lake breezes along Lake Michigan and weather model differences. As a result, the Storm Prediction Center has placed the southern part of the viewing area at an"enhanced risk" for severe weather. In those areas, all types of severe weather could occur, including destructive winds greater than 70 miles per hour, hail larger than two inches and torrential rain that may lead to flash flooding in low-lying areas, the NWS stated.For communities mainly north of Interstate 80, the actual temperatures in the afternoon will likely drop into the 40s. In those spots, the main threats are hail and flash flooding.The severe weather event could last for hours, with storms expected to continue past 9 p.m. Numerous thunderstorms and hazards such as large hail and lighting are possible then - as is a potential tornado. NBC 5 Storm Team Chief Meteorologist Brant Miller said significant rotation tracks may come from LaSalle County, go across Will County and into Kankakee County and even southern Cook County. Miller noted the information reflected weather models as of Monday evening - but could change.The greatest risk period is between 5 p.m. Tuesday and midnight, but we may not be entirely in the clear afterward. Commuters who are on the road between 4 and 6 a.m. Wednesday will likely encounter storms as well, NBC 5 Storm Team meteorologists said. Breezy conditions are expected, with rounds of rain likely both in the morning and evening. North of Interstate 80, temperatures will sit in the 40s, while temps in both the 40s and 50s are expected south of the interstate.
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