Tornado watch lifted, severe weather possible throughout the day

A tornado watch in place early this morning in the suburbs has been lifted by the National Weather Service.

However, threats of severe weather remain throughout the day and potentially through Friday morning, meteorologists from the National Weather Service said.

Meteorologist Amy Seeley said the threats from the severe weather that triggered the tornado watch reduced in strength, prompting officials to cancel the alert.

She said the alert was initially expected to last through 9 a.m.

However, she said, the chance of severe weather remains throughout the day because of the active weather pattern over the Chicago area.

Despite the severe weather, she said, showers and thunderstorms are expected to last through the day, and potentially through the week.

The National Weather Service website is reporting a 70 percent chance of thunderstorms today, then a 60 percent chance of thunderstorms tonight. A 50 percent chance of thunderstorms is tomorrow afternoon, before turning into a 60 percent chance of thunderstorms through the rest of the week.

Temperatures will reach a high near 88 degrees this afternoon, with gusts as high as 30 mph throughout the day. The new rainfall amounts are expected to reach between a quarter-inch and half-inch of rain.