'Brief Tornadoes' Possible, Rain And Storms Likely: Illinois Weather

CHICAGO — Although wet, rainy conditions have become a bit of a norm around the greater Chicago area this spring, forecasters are predicting that the latest round of precipitation could turn severe for some local residents on Wednesday.

The National Weather Service is calling for rain for much of the day on Wednesday before chances of thunderstorms and possibly “brief tornadoes” move into the region in the late afternoon and evening hours.

Most of the area woke up to rain Wednesday morning with temperatures in the upper 50s. Temperatures are expected to rise throughout the day and could approach 66 degrees, forecasters predict.

However, the National Weather Service is calling for the possibility of the main threat of severe weather moving into the region between 2 and 9 p.m. Forecasters said that thunderstorms are capable of producing lighting strikes and “a few brief tornadoes” around the area.

The chance of rain is 90 percent throughout the day, although the rain and possible storms during the morning hours are not expected to produce any severe weather, forecasters said.

The National Weather Service is predicting the area will see between a quarter-inch and half-inch of an inch of rain, during the day. Rain is expected to remain in the area throughout the night and into Thursday and Friday.

Temperatures are expected to reach 70 on Thursday, and rain could last into Friday before things clear up for the holiday weekend.