Thunderstorms headed toward Chicago area may include hail, tornado warnings, weather officials say

Parts of the Chicago area could see severe thunderstorms Tuesday evening, with hail, strong winds and tornadoes possible, according to the National Weather Service.

Northwestern Illinois and the west suburbs were predicted to bear the brunt of the severe weather with a chance that thunderstorms would produce quarter-sized hail and high winds up to 60 mph in the city, said meteorologist Brett Borchardt with the National Weather Service in Romeoville.

The conditions could have the potential of producing tornadoes, he added.

Borchardt said the storms would likely arrive in the area early Tuesday evening and dissipate between 11 p.m. and midnight. He said portions of Illinois closer to the Mississippi River were at higher risk for tornadoes.

He encouraged residents to ensure they have a few ways to get news about incoming weather.

“Anytime we’re expecting thunderstorms overnight we encourage everyone to have multiple ways to receive information, including one that will wake you up overnight,” Borchardt said.

In late February, evening thunderstorms produced at least 11 tornado touchdowns in northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana, including Cook, Kane, DeKalb and Lee counties.

Some weather experts have said that a combination of warmer winters and warmer waters in the Gulf of Mexico could mean more tornadoes in places such as Illinois. The state experienced 118 tornadoes last year—the third most in its history—compared with 36 total tornadoes for the prior year.