A tornado watch is in effect for most of the Chicago area Saturday, with the possibility of severe weather looming in the forecast.
Thunderstorms are moving through the region between 40 and 50 miles per hour, prompting warnings and watches across the region.
Here are the latest headlines:
6:03 p.m.: Severe thunderstorm warning issued in LaSalle County
A previous severe thunderstorm warning for LaSalle County was allowed to expire, but a new warning has now been issued for east-central portions of that county, as well as northwestern Livingston County.
The warning will continue until 6.45pm, with a storm packing wind gusts over 60 miles per hour moving through the area.
Streator, Pontiac and Long Point are all in the storm’s path, officials say.
5:58 p.m.: Severe thunderstorm warning issued for several southwestern suburban counties
A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for parts of LaSalle, Kendall and Grundy counties until 6:45 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.
Officials say northeast LaSalle County, southwest Kendall County and northern Grundy County are affected by the warning.
A storm, located near Ottawa, is moving northeast at 40 miles per hour, with wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour and quarter-size hail reported .
Marseille, Seneca, Lisbon and Wedron are among the municipalities that could be affected by the storm.
5:48 p.m.: Tornado warning issued for parts of Boone, McHenry Counties
A tornado warning was issued for northwest McHenry County and northern Boone County until 6:30 p.m.
According to the National Weather Service, the rotation was indicated on Doppler radar in a cell near Timberlane. This storm is moving northeast at 30 miles per hour.
The storm will be near Timberlane at 5:55 p.m. and near Poplar Gorve at 6 p.m.
Residents are asked to take shelter IMMEDIATELY.
5:36 p.m.: Severe thunderstorm warning issued in LaSalle County
Another severe thunderstorm line formed southwest of the Chicago area, and in response the National Weather Service issued a warning for central LaSalle County.
That warning will last until 6 p.m., officials said.
The storm, part of a group that has formed near Peoria and Bloomington, is located near Wenona, just west of Streator, and is moving northeast 50 miles east. hour.
Wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour and quarter-sized hail are possible.
Another cell in that line is currently on a warning near Bloomington, officials said.
5:15 p.m.: Severe thunderstorm warning issued for Rockford area
A severe thunderstorm warning is now in effect for several communities near Rockford on Saturday afternoon.
The warning covers all of Winnebago County, as well as eastern Ogle County and northwest Boone County, according to the National Weather Service.
The warning will expire at 6 p.m.
The storm hitting the area could bring wind gusts over 60 miles per hour, as well as quarter-size hail.
5:12 p.m.: Dime-sized hail reported in DuPage County
The National Weather Service’s latest “local storm report” comes from a trained weather observer, who observed penny-sized hail in the suburb of Darien.
The hail, which measured approximately 0.7 inches in diameter, was observed at the intersection of Plainfield Road and Cass Avenue.
5:06 p.m .: White Sox game delayed by bad weather
Chicago White Sox game at Guaranteed Rate Field halted due to extreme weather, with teams to come off the field and the tarp deployed by the field team.
It’s unclear how long the delay will last, but the game is now official after going past the top of the fifth inning.
The Sox currently lead 4-0 in the top of the sixth inning.
5:01 p.m.: tornado warning canceled; The watch remains in force
A tornado warning that was issued for parts of DuPage and Cook counties was canceled after Doppler radar discovered the storm’s rotation had stopped, officials said.
A tornado watch remains in effect for most of northern Illinois and the Chicago area until 8 p.m.
4:51 p.m.: Tornado warning issued for parts of Cook, DuPage counties
A tornado warning was issued for east central DuPage County and central Cook County by the National Weather Service after Doppler radar indicated rotation within a cell.
According to the National Weather Service, the cell is located over Oak Brook as of 4:52 p.m., moving northeast at 25 miles per hour.
A tornado did not touch down or be confirmed by observers, but radar indicated rotation in the cell.
4:45 p.m .: A single severe thunderstorm warning still in effect
Although more storms are starting to roll in south and west of Chicago, all but one of the severe thunderstorm warnings put into effect Saturday afternoon have expired.
The only remaining warning is for a cell affecting northwest Will County, as well as all of DuPage County and western Cook County.
The storms were located along a line stretching from Mount Prospect in Clarendon Hills to Orland Park, moving northeast at 40 miles per hour.
The storms brought wind gusts of over 60 miles per hour, which can damage roofs, siding and trees.
4:40 p.m.: More storms developing behind current lines
As severe thunderstorms continue to sweep through the Chicago area, new cells are beginning to form behind the initial line.
According to the National Weather Service and NBC Live Doppler 5 radar, new cells are beginning to form near Dixon and Peoria, and could potentially move toward the Chicago area as the evening progresses.
4:32 p.m.: breathtaking gusts of wind reported in Plainfield
A trained weather observer in the suburb of Plainfield recorded a wind gust of 65 miles per hour during Saturday’s storms.
A severe thunderstorm warning remains in effect for DuPage, Will and Cook counties.
4:27 p.m .: ComEd prepares for possible power outages as storms move
With a tornado watch in effect for the majority of the Chicago area and the possibility of severe thunderstorms, ComEd is urging residents to take precautions and position crews for potential power outages.
Wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour and quarter-sized hail were reported with storms occurring Saturday afternoon, with more possible in the evening, according to the National Weather Service.
“We are positioning our personnel and equipment to respond quickly and safely to any power outages resulting from this storm,” Terence Donnelly, president and chief operating officer of ComEd, said in a press release. “We continue to invest to strengthen the power grid and improve resilience to reduce the impacts a storm like this can have on our customers.
The utility has also provided tips and advice for residents on how to prepare for storms, which you can find here.
4:23 p.m.: Ogle, Lee Counties receive severe thunderstorm warning
A new severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Ogle and Lee counties in Illinois
The storm is heading northeast, potentially putting parts of NBC viewing area 5 in the way. We will continue to update this story as it develops.
4:14 p.m.: Severe thunderstorm warning issued for four counties
The National Weather Service has issued a new severe thunderstorm warning for several suburban counties as a line of powerful thunderstorms crosses the region.
The warning affects all of DuPage County, eastern Kendall County, western Cook County and northwest Will County, and will expire at 5:15 p.m.
Storms could pack wind gusts of over 60 miles per hour.
The storms could impact Carol Stream, Glendale Heights, Naperville, Romeoville, Arlington Heights and Woodridge, among other communities.
4:09 p.m.: Cook County added to Tornado Watch
A tornado watch for northern Illinois now includes Cook County, according to the National Weather Service.
The watch also includes McHenry, DeKalb, Kane, DuPage, LaSalle, Kendall, Grundy, Will and Kankakee counties, and remains in effect until 8 p.m.
3:52 p.m. Severe thunderstorm warning issued for 3 counties
The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of Livingston, Grundy and Will counties until 4:30 p.m.
According to the alert, all of Grundy County, north-central Livingston County and west-central Will County are under the warning.
Wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour and quarter-sized hail have been reported with the storms, and the cell is moving northeast at 50 miles per hour.
3:20 p.m.: A line of thunderstorms continues to form in northern Illinois
At 3:20 p.m., a line of thunderstorms began to form west of NBC viewing area 5, with large cells forming near Dixon and Ottawa.
According to the National Weather Service, some of the storms could be severe and moving northeast at 50 miles per hour.
The storms could generate small hail, brief heavy showers and isolated tornadoes, as well as damaging winds.
Tornado Watch issued for most of the Chicago, Northern Illinois area
The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for most of the Chicago area.
The watch includes 16 Illinois counties, including nine in NBC viewing area 5. McHenry, DeKalb, Kane, DuPage, LaSalle, Kendall, Grundy, Will and Kankakee counties are all in the watch, which will continue until ‘at 20 hours.
Severe thunderstorms are possible throughout Illinois and northwestern Indiana Saturday afternoon and into the evening, according to the National Weather Service.
Some of these storms could potentially bring damaging straight-line winds, hail, heavy rain, and even isolated tornadoes.
Chicago-area residents urged to delay showers and laundry before inclement weather
Chicago-area officials are asking residents to delay taking showers or washing dishes to allow room in the area’s sewage system before Saturday’s potential inclement weather.
The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago issued an “overflow prevention alert” on Saturday ahead of a series of downpours and thunderstorms expected to hit the area.
The alert is designed to help maintain enough space in the area’s sewage system, with extra water expected to end up in the sewer due to inclement weather.
