Tornado Watch Issued For Chicago Area

CHICAGO — The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for the Chicago area until Monday night, the agency announced Monday afternoon.

The watch will be in effect until 9 p.m. as some "mini-supercell" storms roll through northern Illinois and parts of northwest Indiana, the weather service said.

Affected counties include Grundy, Kane, McHenry, Will, DuPage, Lake, Cook and Kendall.

Wind, hail and tornadoes were predicted Monday morning, the National Weather Service advised. The first round of storms was expected to move through the area between 1 and 4 p.m., with a second round from later tonight.

NWS said the "greatest severe (weather) potential" is expected through 9 p.m. Monday.

Some "mini-supercell" storms could bring funnel clouds and even brief tornadoes, the National Weather Service said.

According to the weather service, winds up to 70 mph are expected. Storms are likely to begin with rain in the early afternoon and intensify throughout the day.

Weather officials told residents to make sure they have multiple ways to receive weather warnings, such as phone alerts and a weather radio. The updated advice comes after many residents in the western suburbs of Naperville, Woodridge, Darien and Willow Springs were concerned about not hearing tornado sirens before a major tornado in June.

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"The main timing for any severe weather to occur would be from the mid-afternoon through the early evening," the weather service wrote in its advisory.

Monday's hail could get up to the size of ping pong balls, officials also said.