Areas to the west of Chicago were pounded by severe weather and tornadoes on Monday and afternoon, but there might be even more stormy weather in the forecast for Tuesday, along with heat indices in excess of 100 degrees.
Here are the latest headlines:
11 p.m.: Tornado Warning to Expire in Will County
A storm that had been exhibiting radar-indicated rotation for at least an hour in Will County is now moving out of the area, and a tornado warning attached to that storm will be allowed to expire.
A tornado watch remains in effect until midnight for Will and Kankakee counties in Illinois, as well as Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton and Jasper counties in Indiana.
10:46 p.m.: Tuesday to Bring Dangerously High Heat Indices, 'Enhanced Risk' of Severe Weather in Chicago
After a day filled with severe weather and tornadoes, the Chicago area could see more of the same Tuesday, coupled with soaring temperatures heat that could send heat indices well above 100 degrees.
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To start the day, a heat advisory will go into effect Tuesday for northern Illinois and parts of northwest Indiana. High temperatures are expected to reach into the low-90s, but heat indices will rise into the triple digits, with some locations potentially seeing readings in excess of 105 degrees.
Numerous municipalities throughout Cook County will open cooling centers for residents looking to get out of the heat, according to a press release.
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An “enhanced” risk of severe weather, the third of five ascending categories of severity, exists in many locations across northern Illinois, including McHenry, Lake, DeKalb, Kane, DuPage, Cook and Kendall counties, along with parts of LaSalle and Will counties, according to the NOAA.
A “slight” risk of severe weather, the second of the five categories, is possible elsewhere in the viewing area, including Will, Grundy, Kankakee, Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton and Jasper counties.
10:07 p.m.: Tornado Warning Issued for Part of Will County
According to the National Weather Service, a new tornado warning has been issued for east-central Will County in Illinois, as a severe thunderstorm continues to churn through the county while exhibiting radar-indicated rotation.
The storm, located near Manhattan and Peotone, is moving to the east at 25 miles per hour.
Locations potentially impacted include Monee, University Park, Park Forest, Crete, Beecher and Steger, along with Interstate 57 between mile markers 328 and 337.
9:51 p.m. Tornado Watch Extended for Several Illinois, Indiana Counties
A tornado watch, originally set to expire at 10 p.m., has now been extended for two Illinois counties and four counties in northwest Indiana, according to the National Weather Service.
That watch includes Will and Kankakee counties in Illinois, as well as Lake, Porter, Newton and Jasper counties in Indiana, and will run through midnight.
A tornado warning is in effect in Will County, but has been canceled in Kankakee County after the storm began to track toward the northeast.
9:34 p.m.: Tornado Warning Issued in Will, Kankakee Counties
A tornado warning has been issued for parts of Will and Kankakee counties until 10:15 p.m.
The warning includes southwestern Will County and north-central Kankakee County, according to NWS.
A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Wilmington as of 9:30 p.m., moving to the east at 20 miles per hour.
According to forecasters, rotation has begun intensifying within the storm, but no tornado has yet been spotted.
The storm is expected to stay over mostly rural areas of Will and Kankakee counties, but could impact Symerton and Wilton Center, among other locations.
8:56 p.m.: Photos - Fierce Monday Storms Damage Homes, Down Trees in Chicago Area
A series of intense storms and tornadoes roared through the Chicago area Monday evening, uprooting trees in several communities, tearing roofs off buildings and toppling over outdoor items.
You can find photos captured by viewers and photographers following the storms on our website and in the NBC 5 app.
8:52 p.m.: Cubs Game vs. Brewers Postponed Due to Weather
The Chicago Cubs have announced that their game against the Milwaukee Brewers has been postponed due to weather.
The game will be made up Tuesday as part of a split doubleheader, with two seven-inning games. The first game will start at 1:20 p.m., with the second game set to begin at 7:05 p.m.
Tickets for Monday's game will be honored at the 1:20 p.m. contest.
8:04 p.m.: Final Warning Expires in Cook County; Tornado Watch Remains in Effect
Although a tornado watch still remains in effect for large swaths of northern Illinois and northwest Indiana, all active severe thunderstorm warnings were allowed to expire at 8 p.m.
According to the National Weather Service, there is still a chance of occasional tornadoes as thunderstorms continue to develop around the area, and there is a threat of flooding in some areas that have already been hard-hit by severe weather on Monday.
7:36 p.m.: No Active Tornado Warnings in Chicago Area, but NWS Monitoring Several Potential Hot Spots
After tornado warnings were allowed to expire in Kane and DuPage counties, there are no active tornado warnings in the Chicago-area, but several spots could still potentially prompt another warning, according to the National Weather Service.
One of those areas is near Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, where rotation has been indicated by radar. The rotation is not very-well organized, according to the NBC 5 Storm Team, but weather experts are continuing to monitor the situation.
Another area of concern is out to the west of LaSalle County, where a tornado warning remains in effect in Bureau County. That storm is moving toward the east, and if rotation holds in that storm, then a warning could be forthcoming in LaSalle County.
7:35 p.m.: More Than 200 Flights Canceled at O'Hare, Ground Stop Issued as Storms Hit
More than 200 flights were canceled and a ground stop was initiated at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport Monday evening as thunderstorms capable of producing a tornado headed toward the area.
According to the CDA website, a total of 257 flights had been canceled at O'Hare as of 7:30 p.m., with delays averaging 26 minutes. Arrival delays were averaging 47 minutes, while delays for departing flights were said to be less than 15 minutes.
A ground stop was also issued at the airport due to the severe weather threat, according to reports.
A total of 24 flights were canceled at Midway International Airport, with an average delay of 31 minutes.
7:29 p.m.: Tornado Warning Remains in Effect for Bureau County
As severe thunderstorms continue to churn toward the east in northern portions of the NBC 5 viewing area, the threat of more severe weather could be emerging near the southern portion of the area.
A tornado warning remains in effect for Bureau County until 8 p.m. after a tornado was spotted Monday evening.
Bureau County is located just to the west of LaSalle County. It is unclear at this time whether the storm will maintain strong-enough rotation to prompt a tornado warning there, but the NWS says that it is continuing to monitor the situation.
Meanwhile, a tornado warning for DuPage County is set to expire at 7:30 p.m., meaning that the only active warning in the NBC 5 viewing area currently is a severe thunderstorm warning in eastern DuPage County and parts of Cook County.
7:21 p.m.: Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued for DuPage, Cook Counties, With Ground Stop Ordered at O'Hare
A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for parts of DuPage and Cook counties, with possible rotation reported over O'Hare International Airport.
According to reports, a ground stop has been ordered at the airport, with more than 250 flights already canceled Monday evening.
The warning impacts northeastern DuPage County and northeastern Cook County, and will remain in effect until 8 p.m.
A severe thunderstorm is located over O’Hare as of 7:18 p.m., moving to the east at 30 miles per hour. The storm is packing wind gusts in excess of 60 miles per hour.
Chicago, Evanston, Skokie and Des Plaines are among the numerous areas expected to be impacted by the storms.
7:15 p.m.: Cubs Remain in Rain Delay vs. Brewers
The Chicago Cubs, set to open a series against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field, are in a rain delay at the Friendly Confines due to forecasted inclement weather.
It is unclear when the game will get underway, the team says.
7:02 p.m.: Tornado Warning for Western Kane County Allowed to Expire
The tornado warning issued for west-central Kane County, which was issued after a touchdown was reported near Maple Park, will be allowed to expire at 7 p.m.
An additional thunderstorm north of Virgil has shown signs of rotation, but there are no confirmed tornadoes on the ground in Kane County at this time.
The lone tornado warning that remains in effect is in northwestern DuPage County. That warning will last until 7:30 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.
The storm, which featured a rotating wall cloud, was moving eastward from Bartlett.
A tornado watch remains in effect for most of northern Illinois and northwest Indiana.
6:52 p.m.: Tornado Warning Issued for Kane County
A tornado warning has been issued for east-central Kane County, as a storm that has produced tornadoes in several areas is continuing to move slowly through the region.
The storm, moving to the east at 25 miles per hour, has produced tornadoes in Lee and DeKalb counties, and also produced a tornado that struck near Maple Park on Monday evening.
The storm, located over Campton Hills, will be near St. Charles at approximately 7:05 p.m., and near Bartlett, Geneva, South Elgin, and Wayne at approximately 7:10 p.m.
The warning will remain in effect until 7:30 p.m.
6:45 p.m. "Large and Extremely Dangerous" Tornado Located Near Maple Park, Campton Hills
The tornado, located three miles northeast of Maple Park, or seven miles west of Campton Hills, is moving to the east at 25 miles per hour.
Campton Hills, Elburn, Maple Park, Lily Lake and Virgil are all potentially in the path of this extremely dangerous tornado.
The twister is also reportedly “rain-wrapped,” meaning that it will be difficult or impossible for residents to see before it arrives.
6:25 p.m. Tornado Warning Issued for Kane, DuPage Counties
A new tornado warning has been issued for parts of Kane and DuPage counties until 7:30 p.m., as a storm system that has produced several tornadoes continues to slowly churn toward the east.
According to the National Weather Service, residents in east-central Kane and northwestern DuPage County are being urged to take shelter immediately, as a storm capable of producing a tornado is moving toward the east at 20 miles per hour.
As of 6:24 p.m., the storm was located over Valley View, near St. Charles.
The storm will be located near Bartlett and Wayne at approximately 6:30 p.m., and is on track to be near West Chicago and the DuPage Airport at 6:35 p.m.
Carol Stream, Hanover Park, Bloomingdale, Winfield, Glendale Heights, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn Roselle, Addison, Itasca, Downers Grove and Lombard are also in the path of the storm.
6:19 p.m.: Tornado Spotted Near Sycamore
Trained weather spotters have reported a tornado touchdown near the town of Sycamore, located in northeastern DeKalb County.
According to the latest alert from NWS, the tornado is moving to the east at 25 miles per hour, and social media photos show a debris cloud from the touchdown.
Those residents immediately to the east of Sycamore are urged to seek shelter immediately.
6:13 p.m.: New Tornado Warning Issued for Parts of DeKalb, Kane Counties
Tornado warnings are continuing to pop up in parts of DeKalb and Kane counties, with another fresh warning impacting those areas until 7 p.m.
According to the NWS, northeastern DeKalb County and west-central Kane County are impacted by the latest warning, with a severe storm capable of producing a tornado currently located over Sycamore.
The storm has a reported rotating wall-cloud, according to trained weather spotters.
Tornado warnings also remain in effect for central and southwestern DeKalb County, as well as northwestern Kane County, for separate warnings, including several involving confirmed tornado touchdowns.
6:09 p.m.: Confirmed Tornado Touchdown Near Paw Paw
The National Weather Service has reported that a trained weather spotter has located a confirmed tornado touchdown near the town of Paw Paw.
The storm containing the tornado is currently located over the town of Paw Paw at 6:09 p.m., and is moving to the east at 25 miles per hour.
Flying debris is possible, and residents in the immediate path of the storm are urged to seek shelter immediately.
6:03 p.m.: New Tornado Warning Issued for DeKalb County
Another new tornado warning has been issued for DeKalb County, this time impacting the southwestern portion of the county, according to the National Weather Service.
That warning will remain in effect until 6:45 p.m., and joins warnings for the central and northeastern portions of the county.
Radar is indicating rotation over the town of Paw Paw, located eight miles to the southwest of Shabonna. The storm is moving toward the east at 25 miles per hour.
Residents are urged to take cover immediately, moving to the basement of their home or to an interior room away from windows.
5:45 p.m.: Tornado Warning Issued for Kane County, Separate Warning Remains in Effect in DeKalb County
A tornado warning remains in effect for central DeKalb County until 6:15 p.m., as a confirmed tornado has been spotted just to the southeast of the town of Esmond.
That town is located 10 miles to the northwest of DeKalb, according to NWS. The storm is moving to the east at 25 miles per hour.
A new tornado warning has also been issued for northeastern Kane County, and will remain in effect until 6:30 p.m.
At approximately 5:42 p.m., a storm capable of producing a tornado was located near Pingree Grove, and is moving to the east at 20 miles per hour.
There is not an active tornado at this time, but radar is continuing to indicate rotation, meaning that one may form at any time. The storm system that the cell is part of has spawned numerous tornadoes already, according to NWS.
Damage was also reported near the town of Burlington on Monday afternoon.
A tornado warning for Ogle County has been canceled, as the storm has moved out of the county.
5:34 p.m.: Tornado Warning Issued for Ogle, DeKalb Counties
A new tornado warning has been issued for parts of Ogle and DeKalb counties, with reports of a confirmed tornado touchdown near Malta.
According to the National Weather Service, the warning will be in effect for east-central Ogle and central DeKalb counties until 6:15 p.m.
A confirmed tornado was reported on the ground near Malta as of 5:32 p.m., or seven miles to the northeast of Rochelle, and is moving to the east at 25 miles per hour.
The tornado warning includes the campus of Northern Illinois University. DeKalb, Sycamore and Cortland are among those cities in the path of the storm, according to officials.
Interstate 88 between mile markers 87 and 95 is also included.
5:30 p.m.: Tornado Touchdowns Reported in DeKalb County, NWS Says
The National Weather Service says trained weather spotters have confirmed multiple tornado touchdowns as part of an outbreak of severe weather Monday in areas west of the city of Chicago.
A series of tornado warnings have been issued as storms have moved into the area from southern Wisconsin. Some storms are also firing just within the border with Illinois, and the severe weather is expected to continue throughout the evening and to impact wide swaths of the NBC 5 viewing area.
Multiple brief tornado touchdowns were reported near Esmond, located in South Grove Township in northwestern DeKalb County.
A second tornado touchdown was reported just to the south of Kirkland, Illinois, according to trained weather spotters and the NWS.
5:15 p.m.: Tornado Warning Issued for DeKalb, Kane Counties
A new tornado warning has been issued for parts of DeKalb and Kane counties until 6:15 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.
According to the alert, which impacts northeastern DeKalb and northwestern Kane counties, a severe storm capable of producing a tornado was located over Kingston, or near Genoa, at approximately 5:15 p.m.
That storm is moving toward the east at approximately 20 miles per hour.
Another storm with radar-indicated rotation is also located three miles to the south of Genoa.
Both storms have a history of producing tornadoes, several of which touched down in DeKalb County earlier Monday afternoon.
The storms will be near Sycamore and Genoa at approximately 5:30 p.m. Other locations potentially impacted could include Hampshire, Lily Lake and Pingree Grove, according to the NWS.
5:14 p.m.: Tornado Warning Issued for Lee County
A new tornado warning has been issued for a county just outside of the NBC 5 viewing area, with the NWS issuing the warning for southern Lee County.
At approximately 5:10 p.m., a storm capable of producing a tornado was reported to be near Amboy, with another radar-indicated rotation near Walnut. The cell is moving slowly toward the east at 10 miles per hour.
Tornado warnings remain in effect for DeKalb County, with more storms building behind the initial line, according to the NWS.
4:57 p.m.: Tornado Warning Remains in Effect for DeKalb County
A confirmed tornado was located approximately three miles to the south of Kingston, Illinois at 4:53 p.m., meaning that a tornado warning will remain in effect for DeKalb County until at least 5:15 p.m.
The tornado is moving to the east at 25 miles per hour, and appears to be lifting off the ground and touching back down as the storm cell moves through the area.
Sycamore, Genoa and Kirkland are all anticipated to be in the path of the storms, according to officials.
4:55 p.m.: Spotter Snaps Photo of Tornado Near Kirkland
Meteorologist Tyler Pardun snapped this photo of a brief tornado that touched down in DeKalb County near Kirkland on Monday afternoon:
A pair of tornado warning remain in effect for DeKalb County until 5:15 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.
4:42 p.m.: New Tornado Warning Issued for Ogle, DeKalb County
A second tornado warning has been issued for northwestern DeKalb County after radar-indicated rotation was reported in a storm cell located near Rockford Airport.
According to the National Weather Service, the cell, located nine miles to the southeast of the airport, is exhibiting radar-indicated rotation. The storm is moving to the east at 25 miles per hour.
A separate warning is in effect for a cell currently located to the northeast of Esmond, which has produced a confirmed tornado.
The cell will be located near Kirkland at approximately 4:55 p.m., and will be moving toward Kingston. The storm is expected to impact Interstate 39 between mile markers 109 and 114.
4:35 p.m.: Tornado Warning Issued for DeKalb County After Tornado Spotted in Area
The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for northwestern DeKalb County until 5:15 p.m., after trained weather spotters reported that a tornado had touched down in the area.
According to the warning, the tornado was located near Kirkland, approximately 11 miles to the northwest of DeKalb, at approximately 4:34 p.m., and was moving toward the east at 25 miles per hour.
DeKalb, Sycamore, Genoa and Cortland could potentially impacted by the tornado.
Residents are urged to get to the lowest level of their homes immediately, and to get to an interior area away from windows.
4:27 p.m.: Tornado, Severe Thunderstorm Warnings Canceled as Cell Weakens
A cluster of thunderstorms that spawned severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings in northern Illinois have weakened, leading to those warnings being canceled.
The storms began to slow dramatically as they moved through the area, and after dumping nearly three inches of rain in some locations, they weakened to below severe limits, leading to the cancellation of the warning.
A tornado watch remains in effect for all of northern Illinois and parts of northwest Indiana until 10 p.m., as more showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop and move into the area as the afternoon and evening wear on.
3:48 p.m.: Tornado Warning Issued for Parts of Winnebago, Boone Counties
The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for parts of Winnebago and Boone counties in northern Illinois.
The warning, which impacts the southeastern portion of Winnebago County and southern Boone County, will be effective until 4:30 p.m. The storm, which is capable of producing a tornado, is located over Cherry Valley as of 3:49 p.m., and is moving to the east at just 10 miles per hour.
There has not been a tornado sighted on the ground, but Doppler radar has indicated rotation within the cell, leading the NWS to issue the warning.
Residents are urged to move to the lowest level of their homes, and to move to an interior room away from windows.
3:43 p.m.: Severe Thunderstorm Slowing as it Moves Through Northern Illinois
A severe thunderstorm, which sparked a warning in parts of Ogle, DeKalb, Winnebago and Boone counties, is beginning to slow down, leading to concerns about flash flooding and heavy rains in the region.
According to the National Weather Service, the storm is now moving to the east at approximately 20 miles per hour, and is dumping heavy amounts of rain, which could lead to flash flooding and hazardous travel conditions.
“Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to flash flooding,” an alert said. “Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.”
According to a weather spotter, the storm dumped 1.82 inches of rain in just 20 minutes in an area just to the north of downtown Rockford.
3:33 p.m.: Weather Spotter Reports Incredible Rainfall Totals from Rockford
The storm system churning its way toward the Chicago area is dropping breathtaking amounts of rain, and residents are being urged to use caution when driving in the area.
According to a weather spotter at a private station just north of downtown Rockford, 1.82 inches of rain fell in a 20-minute span Monday afternoon.
Winnebago County is currently under a severe thunderstorm warning for the cell that is currently moving its way through the region.
3:30 p.m.: Tornado Warning Issued for Several SE Wisconsin Communities
A tornado warning has been issued for parts of southeastern Wisconsin, as radar-indicated rotation has been spotted by weather forecasters.
According to the warning, parts of Walworth County are potentially going to be impacted by the storm, which is moving toward the east.
The communities of Elkhorn, Delavan and Lauderdale Lakes in Wisconsin are impacted by the warning, which is effective until 4:15 p.m.
Pea-sized hail is also possible with the storm.
3:15 p.m.: Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued in Northern Illinois
The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of Ogle, DeKalb, Winnebago and Boone counties until 4:15 p.m.
Northeastern Ogle, northwestern DeKalb, southeastern Winnebago and southern Boone County are all impacted by the warning.
The storm, located over Rockford, is moving toward the east at 30 miles per hour.
Wind gusts of 60 miles per hour or more are expected with the storm, which could impact Loves Park, Cherry Valley, and several other communities.
3 p.m.: Tornado Watch Issued for Northern Illinois
The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for most of northern Illinois and parts of northwest Indiana.
The watch will remain in effect until 10 p.m., and covers McHenry, Lake, DeKalb, Kane, DuPage, Cook, LaSalle, Kendall, Grundy, Will and Kankakee counties in northern Illinois, as well as Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton and Jasper counties in northwest Indiana.
A storm system is expected to sweep southward through Illinois in the early evening hours, and will ultimately widen as the evening goes on, hitting numerous areas as it moves through the region.
