Strong, Severe Storms Likely Today

Today offers a rising potential for strong and severe storms across Illinois as the day progresses, with the strongest potential after 2 p.m.

Credit, or blame, El Nino for this — and for the potential risk of tornadoes in Illinois and the Midwest, according to weather forecasters. Our unseasonably warm temperatures — today’s high across the state will range between 57 and 65 degrees — are about 30 degrees above normal, the National Weather Service reports.

Expect to see wind gusts between 30 and 35 mph. Tonight’s winds could reach 45 mph. A tornado, while possible because of this combination of temperature, the powerful early winter jet stream and warm, moist Gulf air moving north, would be rare for northern Illinois in December.

The average number of days with highs of 50 degrees or higher in the Chicago area in December is three. But this December, we’ve already seen nine days with highs of 50 or more, according to the National Weather Service. Today will be the 10th day. The record for most 50-degree-plus days in December was set in 1941.

The weather is expected to clear up for Christmas Day.

A Look Ahead

• Today: Rain, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Some of the storms could be severe. High near 63. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
• Tonight: Rain and possibly a thunderstorm before 10 p.m., then a chance of rain between 10 p.m. and midnight. Some of the storms could be severe. Low around 41. Windy, with a west southwest wind 20 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

• Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 45. Breezy, with a southwest wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
• Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 33. West southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north northwest after midnight.

• Christmas Day: Partly sunny, with a high near 45. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east northeast in the afternoon.
• Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40.

Chicago-Area Live Weather Radar

CREDIT: map by ZoomRadar.com