A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect until 5 p.m. Tuesday for several Illinois counties, National Weather Service officials alerted.
The watch includes Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Ford, Grundy, Iroquois, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, LaSalle, Lee, Livingston and Will counties, officials said.
Officials expect thunderstorms to roll into portions of central and northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana bringing up to 60 mph winds and up to a half-dollar size hail.
Officials say there is a 50 to 80 % chance of showers and then thunderstorms after 4 p.m. Conditions are expected to be a high temperature of 70 degrees and breezy with a southwest wind between 15 to 20 mph shifting to the northwest in the afternoon hours, officials said. Wind gusts are expected as high as 30 mph in the afternoon hours.
More showers are possible before 9 p.m. Tuesday with thunderstorms ramping up between 9 to 10 p.m., when temperatures may drop to the high 30s, officials said. Rain amounts between a quarter and a half an inch are possible.
Wednesday, breezy conditions are expected to continue with more showers and a temperature in the high 30s. There is a 60 % chance of rain Wednesday with night showers and possibly thunderstorms, officials said.
Thursday, high temperatures are expected in the low 60s with a 90 % chance of rain and nighttime showers before 1 a.m., officials said. Temperatures are expected in the low- to mid-40s Thursday.
Friday, there is a chance of showers after 1 p.m. with a high in the upper 40s, with night showers expected after 1 a.m., officials said. Saturday, cloudy conditions are expected with a high in the low 60s, with a chance of showers at night with temperatures in the high 30s.
Conditions at both Chicago’s airports include light thunderstorms and a temperature of 63 degrees.
