Chicago, Illinois – Severe thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes, giant hail, and damaging winds could move into Illinois and Indiana Tuesday evening, including major cities such as Chicago and Indianapolis.
According to severe weather outlook guidance analyzing Tuesday’s setup, thunderstorms are expected to develop across the Plains during the afternoon before spreading east into Illinois and Indiana during the evening and overnight hours. Meteorologists say the atmosphere may support rotating supercells capable of producing tornadoes as storms intensify.
Northern and central Illinois — including Chicago, Joliet, and Champaign — could see storms strengthening as they move east. The threat may then expand toward Indianapolis and surrounding communities later Tuesday night as the storm system advances across the Midwest.
Large hail exceeding 2 inches in diameter will be possible with the strongest storms, particularly during the early stages when storms remain more isolated. As storms organize into clusters or lines, damaging wind gusts exceeding 60 mph could become the primary threat.
Residents across Illinois and Indiana should review severe weather safety plans Tuesday and ensure they have multiple ways to receive warnings in case storms intensify.
Additional watches and weather alerts are likely Tuesday as forecasters refine the highest-risk areas ahead of storm development
