Chicago, Illinois – More than 30 counties across northern Illinois and southeastern Wisconsin remain under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 6 p.m. CDT Monday, with threats of 60 mph wind gusts, hail, and isolated power outages stretching from Rockford to Racine and along the Lake Michigan shoreline.
According to the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, Watch 599 includes major population centers like Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford, and Waukegan, as well as adjacent coastal waters from Sheboygan, WI, to Calumet Harbor, IL. Conditions are favorable for storms capable of producing large hail, dangerous lightning, and downed trees, especially along I-90 and I-94 corridors.
In Illinois, counties impacted include Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will, while Wisconsin counties under watch include Milwaukee, Kenosha, Waukesha, and Racine. Residents are urged to secure outdoor items, charge mobile devices, and delay non-essential travel, particularly along high-traffic commuter routes.
Boaters on Lake Michigan should take immediate precautions. The storm threat extends 5 nautical miles offshore in many areas, with conditions rapidly deteriorating through the afternoon.
Storms are expected to weaken after sunset, but additional alerts may follow if new cells develop.
