Severe thunderstorms expected to roll through suburbs this afternoon

Severe thunderstorms, with the potential for tornadoes and damaging hail, are expected to roll through most of the suburbs Tuesday afternoon.

The highest risk for damage comes after 5 p.m. and runs until about midnight, forecasters at the National Weather Service bureau in Romeoville are reporting.

Lake, Kane and McHenry counties are under a tornado watch until 10 p.m.

Hail could be as big as two inches in diameter, wind gusts could damage and tornadoes are a possibility as well, according to forecasts.

Several rounds of heavy rain are expected, which could lead to flash flooding in some areas too.

Most of the Northern and Western suburbs are at a heightened risk, while suburbs south of Interstate 80 are at a reduced risk.

More storms are likely Wednesday as well as temperatures remain warmer than the seasonal average before cooling down this weekend, meteorologists report.