A series of watches and warnings were issued by the National Weather Service Saturday evening as heavy rain and strong storms descended upon the Chicago area.
A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Cook, Kane, Lake and McHenry counties until 8:30 p.m. A separate severe thunderstorm warning remains in effect for Lake and Porter counties in Northwest Indiana until 8:45 p.m.
After a severe thunderstorm moved through Cook County in the late afternoon to early evening, a flash flood warning has been issued until 10:45 p.m. Lake County in Indiana is also impacted by the warning.
According to the National Weather Service, some parts of the area saw up to two inches of rain in just under an hour, potentially causing flooding concerns for underpasses, creeks and streams.
A tornado watch was issued for Cook, DuPage, Kankakee, and Will counties in Illinois as well as Jasper, Lake, Newton and Porter counties in Indiana until 9 p.m.
According to a trained weather spotter, a tornado reportedly touched down in Kendall County near Minooka this afternoon. The tornado quickly became rain-wrapped, making it more difficult to see, and officials are warning residents to seek shelter if tornado warnings are issued.
According to the National Weather Service, most of northern Illinois is under an "enhanced” risk of severe weather for Saturday, with the far eastern portions of Cook, Will and Kankakee counties under a "slight" risk of severe storms.
Local
Things are expected to be drier in the area on Sunday, but much warmer and still extremely humid. Temperatures are expected to reach the high-80s and could even touch the 90-degree mark in some locations, and those conditions will remain in place on Memorial Day itself.
