The National Weather Service says severe weather bringing storms and high winds, along with a threat of tornadoes, is expected Tuesday in the Chicagoland area.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a hazardous weather outlook Tuesday for Lake, McHenry, Boone, Winnebago, Cook, DuPage, Kane, Will, Ogle, Lee, DeKalb, LaSalle, Kendall, Grundy, Kankakee, Livingston, Iroquois and Ford counties.
Isolated to scattered non-severe thunderstorms are possible late Tuesday morning through early afternoon, the outlook said.
Fairly widespread thunderstorms are forecast in the late afternoon through Tuesday evening, some of which may be strong to severe.
A threat of tornadoes may accompany the most intense thunderstorms, along with damaging hail and winds, the outlook said.
The NWS said a relatively higher tornado threat exists west of Interstate 39.
Southeasterly winds will gust up to 40 mph Tuesday afternoon into the early evening, with the potential for sporadic gusts up to 45 mph near and south of Interstate 80.
Timing for the severe threat is projected from 5-11 p.m., according to the NWS. Hail up to one inch in diameter is also possible.
The majority of Lake County and McHenry County, along with Chicago and surrounding suburbs, is rated a two on a scale of 0-5 for the threat of severe weather.
Forecasters said they recommend residents have multiple ways to get weather warnings and take cover if one is issued.