Chicago, Illinois — Severe thunderstorms Tuesday evening could bring tornadoes, destructive hail and damaging winds across parts of northern Illinois.
According to the Storm Prediction Center, much of the region — including the Chicago metro area — has been placed under an Enhanced Risk (Level 3 of 5) for severe weather on Tuesday, March 10.
Forecasters say the strongest storms could produce hail up to 2.5 inches in diameter, wind gusts exceeding 70 mph, and several tornadoes, some of which could become strong (EF-2 or greater).
The highest tornado probabilities currently extend across parts of Will, Kankakee and southern Cook counties, where outlook maps indicate a 10 percent or greater chance of tornadoes within 25 miles of a location.
Cities including Chicago, Joliet, Aurora, Kankakee, Ottawa and Gary, Indiana may see severe storms as the system moves across the region Tuesday evening and into the overnight hours.
The outlook also shows higher hail potential across central and southern portions of northern Illinois, including areas near Peoria, Pontiac and Bloomington.
Meteorologists say the severe threat could continue after sunset, increasing the concern for overnight storms when many residents may be sleeping.
Residents are encouraged to monitor forecasts and ensure they have multiple ways to receive warnings, including alerts that can wake them overnight.
For commuters, students and evening travelers, storms could impact Tuesday evening travel across the Chicago region and surrounding highways.
