Wind advisory for Chicago area as severe storms that could prompt tornado warnings approach
The Chicago area is facing rounds of afternoon and evening severe weather, bringing storms that could produce hail, wind damage, flooding and tornadoes.
A Wind Advisory is in effect for Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Will, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, LaSalle, Lee, Livingston, Iroquois, Ford, Kendall and Lake counties in Illinois and Benton, Jasper, Lake, Newton and Porter counties in Indiana until at least 7 p.m.
The rain Thursday morning caused flooding in parts of the area, including the ramp from Mannheim Road to I-190 at O'Hare International Airport. It took crews hours to clear a storm drain and make the ramp passable.
There is also a ground delay in effect at O'Hare due to the morning storms, with delays averaging 119 minutes as of 10:49 a.m.
On Thursday afternoon and evening, conditions will become much more unstable as warmer, more humid air surges in.
This setup will support the potential for strong to severe thunderstorms, with threats including damaging winds, hail, heavy rainfall, and a threat of tornadoes.
Almost the entire Chicago area is under a 3/5 or moderate risk for severe storms Thursday. The risk for tornadoes is between 5% and 15% for most of the area.
The highest risk will be during the afternoon and evening hours as a cold front moves through, starting around 2 p.m. and with the period of heaviest activity from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tornado warnings during this time are likely.
The greatest tornado risk sets up west and northwest of Chicago first, and then storms move east into the metro through the evening.
Before the storms even arrive, Thursday will be a very windy day. A wind advisory is also posted from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The greater Chicago area has already seen its fair share of severe storms this year. Just last month, the National Weather Service confirmed 12 tornadoes across Illinois and Indiana.
That figure includes the deadly EF-3 tornado that ripped through Kankakee, Illinois, and Lake Village, Indiana.
Tornadoes have always been an issue in the Chicago area, but activity has been intense in some recent years. In the summer of 2024, more than 30 tornadoes touched down across the Chicago area in one day.
The CBS News Chicago First Alert Weather team said conditions in the Midwest can change quickly this time of year, which is why days like Thursday are taken very seriously.
Other severe weather issues besides tornadoes have also caused problems this year. Already this spring, there has been flooding, as well as large that caused damage to homes and cars.
Roofing companies said they have seen a 200% increase in calls, and expect even more as severe weather season ramps up.
As to the rest of the week and the weekend, additional rounds of rain and storms are expected Friday into Saturday with another developing system, which could also lead to localized flooding concerns. By Sunday into early next week, drier and cooler weather is expected to return.
The White Sox home opener against the Toronto Blue Jays has also been canceled due to the weather Thursday. The game has been rescheduled for Friday afternoon, and anyone who paid for a ticket for parking can use it on Friday.