Intense downpours with a “lot of lightning” are expected to move throughout the area in the next hour or so, forecasters say, as the National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of Cook and DuPage counties until 7:30 p.m and parts of Kane, Kendall and DeKalb counties until 7:45 p.m.
A flash flood warning has also been issued for Cook, DuPage and Kane counties until 10:15 p.m.
These storms, coming in from the north, will possibly be in two bursts, and w ill include downpours, pea-sized or possibly quarter-sized hail, and a “lot of lighting,‘’ with it and should be in the Chicago area shortly before 7 p.m., said Brian Leatherwood, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service.
The first round of Friday storms moved out of the Chicago area by around 10 a.m., but storms Friday afternoon and evening throughout northern Illinois, northwest Indiana and southern Wisconsin could be severe, according to the National Weather Service.
A message from Trading Blvd
The severe thunderstorm watch was in effect until 9 p.m. for all of northern Illinois from Kankakee north, southern Wisconsin and Lake and Porter counties in Indiana.
Starting Friday afternoon, “Severe thunderstorms are a threat … potentially in several waves” into the evening, according to the weather service.
“Additional thunderstorms will occur this afternoon and evening, with the primary severe weather and flash flood threat time being 4 to 10 p.m., according to the weather service. “Damaging wind gusts will be the main threat, but a threat for a few brief tornadoes exists as well. A threat for flash flooding will exist as well, mainly north of I-80.”
High temperatures Friday were expected to be about 89 degrees away from Lake Michigan, with a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms. The weekend will see lower chances of storms, with temperatures in the low 80s away from the lake Saturday and Sunday.
Originally Publish at: https://www.chicagotribune.com/