Chicago Weather Alert: Severe thunderstorm, tornado warnings issued as dangerous storms pass through area
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings were issued for large parts of the Chicago area Wednesday afternoon and evening as dangerous storms swept in.
A severe thunderstorm warning is now in effect for parts of southern Cook County, Will County in Illinois, and Lake County in Indiana until 6:45 p.m.
A severe thunderstorm warning was also issued for Kankakee County in Illinois and Newton and Jasper counties in Indiana. The warning was in effect until 6:15 p.m.
An earlier tornado warning is in effect for north and northwest portions of Cook County until 4:30 p.m. The warning included Wheeling, O'Hare International Airport, and parts of the North Shore.
A ground stop was placed into effect at O'Hare amid that storm, which later moved out over Lake Michigan. The Metra Union-Pacific North line has also been halted between Winnetka and the end of the line.
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The CBS 2 Mobile Weather Lab spotted a rotating wall cloud while headed south on Busse Road. The cloud was lowering, but there was no indication of a touchdown.
CBS 2's Kris Habermehl photographed the tornado-warned call as it passed over Lake Cook Road just east of I-294 in Deerfield.
An earlier tornado warning was also issued for central and eastern DuPage County. The National Weather Service reported around 3:44 p.m. that a funnel cloud was spotted over Glen Ellyn.
CBS 2 Web Producer Beth Lawrence Bria reported heavy rain in Wheaton, followed by warning sirens sounding.
Another tornado warning was issued for Kane County earlier in the afternoon. This warning was for a separate system that lost intensity as it crossed into McHenry County.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are likely through the midevening hours, as a warm front moves north across the area. Other storms could also be strong or severe, producing gusty winds and hail.
The Storm Prediction Center had placed our area under a "slight" risk for severe weather, that's a level 2 out of 5 on the severe weather scale with a 5 percent tornado risk.
Storm chances decrease by the late evening, but scattered showers will be likely through the overnight hours.
Thursday will feature another round of showers and storms, but no severe weather is expected. Lingering showers for Friday, then drying out and heating up for the Memorial Day Weekend.
