Storms bring heavy rain, lightning to Chicago area; severe weather may be coming early Tuesday
CHICAGO (CBS) — Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for La Salle Co. until midnight
A Flood Watch is in effect west of Chicago until 7 a.m. on Wednesday, and around, storms brought heavy rain and dangerous lightning to the Chicago area on Monday night.
Torrential downpours with lots of lightning were seen in the north suburbs Monday night and in parts of the city of Chicago. A line of storms popped up quickly, with instability in the atmosphere interacting with the lake breeze.
Waves of occasional thunderstorms, some severe, are expected Monday night through Tuesday night as a disturbance has been moving toward the Chicago area from Wisconsin. Storms were already hitting some north and northwest suburban areas around 8:45 p.m., bringing lightning and pouring rain.
Any storm may contain damaging wind gusts of 75 miles per hour, an isolated tornado, and a lower threat of hail.
But any storms Monday night are only a prelude to what is to come.
A complex of storms was developing Monday night in Minnesota and Wisconsin and was set to blast southward toward the Chicago area early Tuesday morning. This complex of storms may create a swath of wind damage more than 240 miles long, qualifying it as a "derecho" event.
Severe storms race through our area from north to south between 3 a.m. and 9 a.m., and calm weather returns midday.
If the clouds clear and temperatures heat up into the 90s, the atmosphere may recharge enough to create a second round of strong to severe storms Tuesday evening. However, this is still uncertain.
Dry, cooler weather returns Wednesday afternoon and Thursday; another round of severe storms is possible on Friday.
Tonight: Storms late, some of which will be severe. Low: 74
Tuesday: Storms will likely be early, then possibly later in the day. Hot. High: 92
Wednesday: A few morning showers, then clearing. High: 83