Severe Storms Could Bring Damaging Winds, Hail To Chicago Area

ILLINOIS — Severe weather is possible Thursday night into Friday, with hail and locally damaging winds as the main threat, according to the National Weather Service.

Periods of showers and storms will continue through Thursday afternoon, but no severe weather is expected during the daytime.

The weather service said there is an elevated storm risk for Thursday night, with a damaging wind risk up to 60 mph, and a large hail risk, up to one inch in diameter.

There is "low confidence" in coverage of storms late Thursday. The most likely timing for the severe weather would be between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m., according to the weather service.

Scattered storms are also possible Friday afternoon and evening, mainly north of Interstate 80, the weather service said. There is a level 1 of 5 severe weather threat, mainly between 2 and 10 p.m. Friday.