Chicago, IL — A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for parts of Illinois, Indiana and Michigan through 11 p.m. Friday, with damaging winds, large hail and a tornado risk possible.
According to the National Weather Service in Chicago, storms developing across the region may produce isolated hail up to ping pong ball size, wind gusts up to 70 mph, and a couple of tornadoes.
The watch area stretches from northeast Illinois into northern Indiana and southwest Michigan, including cities such as Kankakee, South Bend, Fort Wayne, Kalamazoo and Jackson.
Forecasters say the storms may strengthen as they move east across the region Friday evening.
In addition to damaging winds and large hail, officials say a few tornadoes cannot be ruled out in stronger storms.
The severe thunderstorm watch currently covers an estimated 3,768,935 people, along with more than 1,400 schools and 85 hospitals, according to National Weather Service exposure estimates.
A severe thunderstorm watch means conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms capable of producing damaging winds, large hail or tornadoes.
Residents across the region are encouraged to monitor weather alerts and be prepared to move to shelter quickly if warnings are issued.
Evening commuters, students and workers traveling across northern Illinois, northern Indiana and southwest Michigan may encounter rapidly changing weather conditions as storms move through tonight.
