The Chicago area is potentially facing multiple rounds of severe weather on Tuesday and into Wednesday morning, with large hail, damaging winds and isolated tornadoes all possible.
This comes just a few days after severe weather tore through the region, spawning more than a dozen tornadoes and leading to hundreds of damaged structures across the region.
Here are the latest headlines:
3:50 p.m.: NWS Warns Residents to Remain 'Weather Aware' as Second Severe Threat Looms
The National Weather Service is urging residents to remain "weather aware," as the threat of more severe weather could potentially loom in the forecast Tuesday evening after 6 p.m.
Earlier storms brought gusty winds and large hail to the region, and if another round of severe weather develops, it could pose similar threats, along with a chance of isolated tornadoes.
Complicating matters is the presence of a dome of high pressure over the NBC 5 viewing area, which could prevent the development of strong-to-severe thunderstorms in the evening hours.
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As a result, residents are being urged to keep weather alerts on their phones, and to have multiple ways to access weather information in the evening hours.
NBC 5 viewers can use our station's live radar to track any storms as they develop.
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3:45 p.m.: Apple-Sized Hailstone Reported in Winnebago County
While damage assessments are still being submitted, the National Weather Service posted a photo sent in by Winnebago-resident Robert Stoll of what appears to be a three-inch diameter hailstone that fell during Tuesday's severe weather:
That hailstone is roughly the size of a large apple, according to officials, and was part of a pattern of severe weather that saw baseball-size hail fall in multiple Chicago suburbs.
3:07 p.m.: All Weather Watches, Warnings Expire in Chicago Area
All active watches and warnings in the Chicago area have been allowed to expire, according to the National Weather Service.
Marine warnings do remain in effect on the waters of Lake Michigan as storms continue to churn toward the northeast.
The National Weather Service says that additional storms could potentially develop later this evening, asking residents to be on alert after the 6 p.m. hour:
2:45 p.m.: Chicago Fire Officials Say Storm Damage Reported in City
According to the Chicago Fire Department, several locations within the city are reporting wind damage from Tuesday's thunderstorms, but no injuries have been reported at this time.
2:35 p.m.: Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued for Parts of Lake, Cook Counties
A new severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for southeastern Lake County and north-central Cook County until 3 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.
The storms, located over Riverwoods, were moving to the northeast at 30 miles per hour.
Ping pong ball-size hail and wind gusts in excess of 60 miles per hour are possible with the storms, which could impact Northbrook, Lake Forest, Lincolnshire, and Long Grove.
2:32 p.m.: Flight Cancellations Stack Up At O'Hare, Midway
As heavy rain, thunder and golf ball-sized hail hammers the Chicago area Tuesday, flight delays and cancellations are piling up at O'Hare and Midway International Airports, snarling the spring break and Holy Week plans of many hopeful travelers.
According to Fly Chicago, total flights canceled into or out of O'Hare Airport as of 2 p.m. stood at 61, with an average delay of 30 minutes. Midway is seeing delays of around 15 minutes, with six cancellations reported.
"Due to thunderstorms, traffic is experiencing Gate Hold and Taxi delays between 16 minutes and 30 minutes in length and increasing," an update posted to the Federal Aviation Administration says, regarding operations at O'Hare airport.
You can get up-to-date information here.
2:27 p.m.: Dramatic Images Show Massive Hail Across Area
NBC 5 viewers have been sending in dozens of images of large hail this afternoon, and we've compiled them into a gallery here.
Images Show Massive Hail Spotted Across Chicago Area as Storms Erupt
2:15 p.m.: Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued in Lake, McHenry Counties
A new severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for northwestern Lake County and northern McHenry County, and will run through 3 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.
Ping pong ball-size hail and strong winds are expected with the storms, which are racing to the northeast at 50 miles per hour.
Round Lake Beach, Woodstock, Lindenhurst, Beach Park and Winthrop Harbor could all be impacted by the storms.
1:57 p.m.: Tennis Ball-Size Hail Reported in Kane County
According to the National Weather Service, trained weather spotters have observed tennis ball-size hail in suburban Aurora Tuesday afternoon.
The 2.5-inch diameter hailstones were observed in the northwestern portion of the community, officials said.
Hailstones 1.5 inches in diameter, or the size of ping pong balls, were observed in Wheaton and in Batavia, according to officials.
1:50 p.m.: Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued in Parts of Winnebago, McHenry Counties
A new severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for parts of three counties until 2:30 p.m.
That list includes northeastern Winnebago County, northwestern McHenry County and northern Boone County, according to the National Weather Service.
Golf ball-size hail and wind gusts in excess of 60 miles per hour are possible with the storms, which could impact Loves Park, Rockton, Capron, Hebron and other cities.
1:48 p.m.: ComEd Prepares for Another Round of Chicago-Area Severe Weather
Just days after tornadoes and gusty winds knocked out power to thousands of Chicago-area residents, ComEd says that it is positioning equipment and mobilizing additional crews in case more severe weather arrives Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning.
According to the utility company, they are preparing for a forecast that includes heavy rain and gusty winds, along with frequent lightning and large hail, all of which could impact the area’s power grid.
Officials with the company say that more than 90,000 customers lost power during Friday’s severe storms, with power restored to those individuals over the weekend.
“After a significant effort to restore our communities to normal, we are geared up for this next round of storms,” VP of Distribution Operations Dave Perez said in a statement. “Back-to-back storms like these are becoming more frequent due to the impacts of climate change, and we appreciate our customers’ patience as we work to restore power.”
1:32 p.m.: Baseball-Size Hail Reported in DeKalb County as Severe Weather Hammers Chicago Area
The National Weather Service is warning northern Illinois residents to seek shelter Tuesday afternoon as a series of severe thunderstorms march across the area, with some producing baseball-size hail and winds in excess of 70 miles per hour.
According to the National Weather Service, hail 2.75 inches in diameter is considered “baseball-size,” while hail that is 2.5 inches in diameter is considered “tennis ball-size.”
At least one report has already come in of baseball-size hail in the area, with a hailstone in Sandwich, located in DeKalb County, measuring 2.75 inches, according to trained weather spotters.
1:07 p.m.: Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued for Most of Northeastern Illinois
Two new severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for parts of six Chicago-area counties, according to the National Weather Service.
One warning ncludes all of McHenry and Lake counties, as well as northeastern Kane County and northern Cook County, and will remain in effect until 2:30 p.m.
A second warning was issued for all of Cook and DuPage counties, as well as northeastern Kendall County, southeastern Kane County, and northwestern Will County, and will remain in effect until 2:45 p.m.
The National Weather Service is warning of baseball-sized hail and damaging wind gusts in excess of 70 miles per hour with the storms.
12:47 p.m.: Severe Storm Warning Issued for Trio of Counties
A severe thunderstorm warning is now in effect for central DeKalb County, all of Kane County and northern Kendall County until 1:15 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.
The warning comes as a line of thunderstorms moves toward the northeast at 30 miles per hour, with Aurora, Oswego, Batavia, Plano and Sugar Grove all within its path.
The storm is producing golf ball-size hail and wind gusts in excess of 70 miles per hour.
Another warning remains in effect in effect for northern DeKalb County, northwestern Kane County and southwestern McHenry County until 1:30 p.m.
This storm is producing large hail and wind gusts in excess of 70 miles per hour, and is moving toward the east at 45 miles per hour.
Tree damage is expected, along with wind damage to roofs, siding and windows.
Lake in the Hills, Belvidere, Sycamore, Malta, Burlington and Kingston are all in the path of the storm.
12:40 p.m.: Severe Thunderstorm Watch Extended to McHenry, Lake Counties
An earlier severe thunderstorm watch has been expanded to include McHenry and Lake counties until 3 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.
Wind gusts in excess of 70 miles per hour and large hail are possible with the storms, along with the possibility of isolated tornadoes.
Other Chicago-area counties were already included, with DeKalb, Kane, DuPage, Cook, LaSalle, Kendall, Grundy, Will and Kankakee countes in Illinois, as well as Lake County in northwest Indiana, all part of the area.
That watch will be in effect until 3 p.m.
12:24 p.m.: Baseball-Sized Hail Reported in Illinois
Weather spotters near the border of Ogle and Lee counties in western Illinois reported baseball-sized hail and wind gusts of up to 80 miles per hour, with residents urged to take cover and to avoid windows as the storm passes:
