More Heavy Rain, Damaging Storms Expected To Hit Wednesday Night
CHICAGO (CBS) -- With several areas south and west of Chicago only starting the recovery process after nine tornadoes touched down during Monday night's storms, more severe weather was expected to hit the area Wednesday night and early Thursday.
Most of the day likely will be sunny and nice on Wednesday, with highs reaching the low 80s, but heavy rain should begin in the late evening.
The National Weather Service said, while a few scattered storms are possible Wednesday afternoon, the threat of severe weather is minimal until late Wednesday evening, into early Thursday.
A large storm system from the west was moving through Illinois Wednesday morning, but was staying mostly south of I-80, and was not prompting severe thunderstorm warnings as it headed southeast.
Most of the Chicago area is facing an enhanced risk of severe weather Wednesday night, meaning numerous severe storms are possible. The National Weather Service said Wednesday night's storms were expected to produce heavy rain, flash floods, frequent lightning, damaging winds, large hail, and might include isolated tornadoes.
Some scattered storms could begin firing up around 8 or 9 p.m., with a much larger system of organized thunderstorms rolling in early Thursday, bringing very heavy rain through around dawn.
"Periods of thunderstorms are expected to develop this afternoon and increase in coverage and intensity this evening across northern Illinois and Northwest Indiana. Thunderstorms producing very heavy rainfall will be possible through Thursday morning. The atmosphere is expected to become favorable for storms to produce very heavy rain, with high rainfall rates. Storms may train over the same area, increasing the likelihood of flooding," the National Weather Service said in a storm statement early Wednesday.
A flash flood watch has been issued for all of northern Illinois and most of northwest Indiana through 1 p.m. Thursday, as the ground is already saturated in many areas, which could lead to quick flooding if there is more heavy rain.