Tornado watch issued for area until 11 p.m.; heavy rain, hail remain a threat
The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch through 11 p.m. today for the Chicago suburbs and most of north and central Illinois.
Damaging winds, large hail and flash flooding may accompany heavy storms moving in later today, officials said.
Storms that included some small hail landed in Chicago and some Southern suburbs, officials said.
Ricky Castro, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service, said quarter-sized hail was reported in Marengo at about midnight. He added reports of hail was reported in Lemont, Lockport and near Joliet.
He said additional clusters of storms are expected expected late this afternoon into early evening.
"That's when the warmer temperatures rolls in, causing strong upper level disturbances," he said.
The Community Collaborative Rain, Snow and Hail Network is reporting that almost 2 inches of rain has been recorded in Mundelein this morning, while Gurnee and Fox Lake have received just over an inch. Nearly an inch of rain has landed in Hoffman Estates, Elgin and Roselle, while Woodstock has reported over 2 inches.
While there's an increased threat of tornadoes or damaging winds in excess of 58 mph, the risk is even higher of hail larger than an inch in diameter.
The likelihood of storms and soaring temperatures will continue through early Friday morning, though Thursday afternoon will be the time of highest risk.
The chance of damage is especially severe in high-density areas like Chicago, said AccuWeather senior meteorologist Henry Margusity.
"The risk of tornadoes will affect parts of Illinois, Indiana and Missouri, which represent a fairly heavy population density," he said.
The Illinois Emergency Management Agency director James Joseph says residents should be prepared to seek shelter and not go down flooded roads.
"This major storm system could bring localized flooding from heavy rains, severe thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts and large hail, and even a chance for tornadoes," IEMA Director James K. Joseph said.
Travelers can expect disruptions from blinding rain and flooded roadways; flight delays and cancellations also are likely at O'Hare and Midway airports.
"We want everyone to stay aware, be prepared to seek shelter if a storm warning is issued," Joseph said.
AccuWeather forecasters say the violent storms will stretch from northeastern Texas to southern Wisconsin, lower Michigan and southwestern Ontario. The storms have the potential to affect approximately 60 million people.