The Chicago area is at a “slight” risk of severe weather on Monday, but outside of those storms the region could still see powerful wind gusts.
According to the National Weather Service, a wind advisory has been issued for the entire area until 4 p.m., with multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms expected to be accompanied by isolated damaging wind gusts.
Sustained winds of 20-to-30 miles per hour are expected through the afternoon in the Chicago area, but some gusts could occur in excess of 50 miles per hour, according to the alert.
There is even a chance for localized gusts up to 60 miles per hour as a front approached the area, and as winds race out in front of that front, according to forecast models.
Amid that threat of wind there is also the chance of not one but two rounds of showers and thunderstorms on Monday afternoon, with some showers and storms already forming west of the Chicago area as of 11 a.m. Monday.
Those storms could produce locally heavy rainfall, wind gusts of over 40 miles per hour and small hail, but they are only the appetizer for threats later in the day.
A second round of showers and thunderstorms is expected to arrive in the late afternoon and into the evening, and these storms could be on the strong-to-severe side, with gusty winds, heavy rain and hail all possible.
While there is a non-zero threat of tornadoes from the storms, the main area of tornadic development has been moved to the south of the Chicago area, with central and southern Illinois both in the crosshairs of possible strong tornadoes, according to the Storm Prediction Center.
Late Monday and into Tuesday it’s expected that the storms will move out of the area, and cooler temperatures will arrive behind the front, with highs in the upper-50s and low-60s for most of the week, according to the NBC 5 Storm Team.
Stay tuned to the NBC 5 Storm Team throughout the day Monday for the latest developments, and download the NBC Chicago app for real-time weather alerts sent directly to your phone.
