For portions of northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana, the National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch that is in effect until Wednesday night at 10 p.m. For some of the Chicago region on Wednesday evening, tornado warnings—which are issued when a tornado has been observed or detected by radar—were issued.
Visit the National Weather Service website for the most recent data.
According to the NWS, the watch extends south to Dixon and west to Kankakee, covering Cook County and all other collar counties.
Winds with isolated gusts up to 70 mph are possible for the area, along with “a couple strong tornadoes.” Also possible is hail up to two inches in diameter. According to the NWS, tornado watches are issued when the weather indicates a higher chance of tornadoes.
Chicago is at risk due to weather conditions brought on by a warm front heading into the region.
According to Kevin Donofrio, science and operations officer with the National Weather Service, the chance of a tornado in the Chicago area would probably be at its greatest between 6 and 9 p.m. on Wednesday.
In a statement, the mayor of Chicago stated that preparations are being made to coordinate response activities in light of the possibly severe weather.
To prevent adding to the strain on the sewer system during storms, residents are encouraged to refrain from using excessive amounts of water for showers, laundry, or dishwashing.
To report flooding in your basement or on the street, Chicago homeowners can dial 311.
On Wednesday night, a tornado was reported to be in the region of O’Hare International Airport and travelling east towards downtown. The National Weather Service recommended residents of the Chicago area to seek shelter.
The Weather Service issued an advisory at 7:03 p.m. that stated, “To reiterate, a tornado is on the ground.” NOW TAKE COVER! Go to the lowest floor of a sturdy building’s internal room or the basement.