While forecasts had initially warned of the potential for devastating tornadoes in the Chicago area Wednesday, it appears the threat is shifting.
The risk of severe weather and possibly even some tornadoes still remains Wednesday afternoon and evening, but new guidance from the National Weather Service and morning rain and storms appear to have shifted the expectations.
Illinois and Indiana still have a high risk of tornadoes, severe storms and flash flooding, but the threat has now moved farther south.
“The rain and the thunderstorms we had this morning has helped keep this warm front farther south of us, which limits the risk of strong, high-end tornadoes later this afternoon,” NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Kevin Jeanes reported. “So that’s great news for us around Chicago. However, areas farther south, central Illinois and Indiana still at the risk of some strong tornadoes through this afternoon and early evening.”
Morning storms changing the track of the system was a possibility forecasters warned of Tuesday.
The ingredients for the most intense storms and destructive tornadoes will be along and south of this front.
The change sparked the Storm Prediction Center to change its severe weather outlook for the Chicago area, moving “moderate” threat level that initially sat in parts of the Chicago area south of the Kankakee River Valley.
That moves much of the Chicago area into a “slight” risk category, or a level two out of five.
“We have some strong wind gusts and some heavy rain, and potentially some small hail in a few thunderstorms through about 5-7 p.m.,” Jeanes said.
Tornadoes will still be possible; especially south of Interstate 80, but the overall risk of severe weather for most of the Chicago metro is much lower than it was 24 hours ago.
“Even just hours before an event … the forecast can change,” Jeanes said.
Still, he urged caution as the track could shift yet again.
“Strong destructive tornadoes possible essentially from the Kankakee River and to the south. So still stay on on guard and pay attention to what’s going on. Stay weather aware through this afternoon, especially everywhere south of I-80, just in case some of these stronger storms do track along or just north of the Kankakee River valley, that is still a possibility,” Jeanes said.
In addition to the threat level changing, so too is the timing of the storms.
Showers and storms are now expected to exit from northwest to southeast between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Already, storms have sparked ground stops at both Chicago airports, high winds have down poles in the city and sparked a tornado watch for some Chicago-area counties.
“Torrential” downpours and a high flash flooding risk led Chicago officials to issue an “overflow action alert,” advising residents to reduce their water use, including delaying showers and using the washing machine in order to protect water quality.
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