Tornado Watch For Chicago Area: National Weather Service

ILLINOIS — Another round of thunderstorms is expected Friday afternoon into the evening, bringing a possibility of severe weather, according to the National Weather Service. A tornado watch has also been issued, in effect until 11 p.m., for 14 counties including Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will counties.

The tornado watch area includes Algonquin, Aurora, Bolingbrook, Buffalo Grove, Crystal Lake, Downers Grove, Evanston, Joliet, Lemont, Minooka, Naperville, Oak Lawn, Orland Park, Oswego, Wheaton and Yorkville.

There is a "significant" thunderstorm risk on Friday, with a level 2 of 5 tornado risk, level 2 of 5 damaging wind risk and level 1 of 5 large hail risk, the weather service said.

Scattered showers and storms are expected Friday morning, mainly north of Interstate 80. The weather service said the risk of severe weather and flash flooding is fairly low with these storms.

However, additional storms are expected in the afternoon and some of these storms could be severe with damaging winds as the primary threat, according to the weather service.

"There is a risk for hail and even some brief tornadoes as well," the weather service said.

Storms could also produce torrential rainfall rates in excess of two inches per hours, which could result in localized flash flooding.

The weather service advised staying weather-aware on Friday, and having multiple ways to get weather warnings.

Here is a look at the daily forecast, per the weather service:

FRIDAY: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4 p.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. South southwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.

FRIDAY NIGHT: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west northwest in the evening.

SATURDAY: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. South southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

SATURDAY NIGHT: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. West wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.

SUNDAY: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

SUNDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear, with a low around 65.