Tornado warning issued for Chicago area ahead of Tuesday afternoon storms

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a tornado watch for all of northeastern Illinois and parts of northwest Indiana Tuesday afternoon, ahead of potential severe storms. Radar indications show intense low-level rotation, a condition which can produce tornadoes, with threats increasing throughout the afternoon according to the NWS.

The NWS’s tornado watch impacts the entirety of the Chicago area until 8 p.m. Potential dangers include hail accumulations and wind speeds reaching 58 mph, increasing the likelihood of property damage. The warning also suggests the possibility of "strong tornadoes" and "destructive hail" in northwest Indiana.

Chicago residents are being asked to delay nonessential water usage, such as showering and washing laundry, due to the potential for flooding caused by excessive rainfall and strong storms. Overflow action alerts have been issued by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, asking residents to flush toilets less frequently in the coming hours.

According to the NWS, the severe weather threat will last through the early evening. It is important for residents to have multiple ways of receiving warning information during this period.

Though drier conditions are expected for Wednesday , the volatile weather pattern may continue into the afternoon and evening, with storms potentially developing. The NWS advises that temperatures will range between the low 70s and 80s, with cooler temperatures forecasted for the end of the week.