While declining air quality from wildfire smoke remains a concern across the Chicago area, attention is shifting to the threat of severe storms. Gusty storms are expected on Saturday, with meteorologists warning of possible damaging winds, hail and heavy downpours.
The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Kankakee and Will counties in Illinois in addition to Lake, La Porte, Porter, Newton and Jasper counties in northwest Indiana until 7 p.m.
NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Pete Sack explained thunderstorms were expected to begin developing along a cold front at around noon, then begin moving southward at around 2 p.m.
The Storm Prediction Center has placed the area under a marginal to slight risk of severe weather.
A map posted by the National Weather Service shows scattered storms are possible between 1 and 4 p.m. in Cook, Kane, DuPage, DeKalb, LaSalle, Grundy and Kendall counties in Illinois and Lake, Porter and La Porte counties in northwest Indiana. The greatest storm threat, however, is near and south of Interstate 80, where frequent lightning, damaging winds capable of downing tree limbs and soaking downpours are possible.
Numerous storms could develop south of I-80 through 7 p.m., including in portions of Grundy and Kankakee counties in Illinois along with Jasper and Newton counties in Indiana.
The break in storms will be brief, with additional chances arriving next week.
Several rounds of severe storms could hit the Chicago area on Monday night, with damaging winds and torrential downpours expected to be the primary threats. Areas of a higher threat level will be pinpointed as the forecast becomes clearer in the coming days.
Stay tuned to the NBC 5 Storm Team for any watches or warnings that are issued as storms develop.
While declining air quality from wildfire smoke remains a concern across the Chicago area, attention is shifting to the threat of severe storms. Gusty storms are expected on Saturday, with meteorologists warning of possible damaging winds, hail and heavy downpours.
The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Kankakee and Will counties in Illinois in addition to Lake, La Porte, Porter, Newton and Jasper counties in northwest Indiana until 7 p.m.
NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Pete Sack explained thunderstorms were expected to begin developing along a cold front at around noon, then begin moving southward at around 2 p.m.
The Storm Prediction Center has placed the area under a marginal to slight risk of severe weather.
A map posted by the National Weather Service shows scattered storms are possible between 1 and 4 p.m. in Cook, Kane, DuPage, DeKalb, LaSalle, Grundy and Kendall counties in Illinois and Lake, Porter and La Porte counties in northwest Indiana. The greatest storm threat, however, is near and south of Interstate 80, where frequent lightning, damaging winds capable of downing tree limbs and soaking downpours are possible.
Numerous storms could develop south of I-80 through 7 p.m., including in portions of Grundy and Kankakee counties in Illinois along with Jasper and Newton counties in Indiana.
The break in storms will be brief, with additional chances arriving next week.
Several rounds of severe storms could hit the Chicago area on Monday night, with damaging winds and torrential downpours expected to be the primary threats. Areas of a higher threat level will be pinpointed as the forecast becomes clearer in the coming days.
Stay tuned to the NBC 5 Storm Team for any watches or warnings that are issued as storms develop.