The Chicago Area Is Under A Tornado Watch This Evening
By Rachel Cromidas in News on Feb 28, 2017 11:00PM
The Chicago area is under a tornado watch Tuesday evening, with potentially severe thunderstorms on the way.
The watch, made for the area at 3 p.m., will reportedly remain in effect until 10 p.m. tonight. In addition to gnarly cloud cover and rain, the storm could produce "golf ball sized" hail, according to the National Weather Service.
TORNADO WATCH --> for ALL counties in RED from now through 10pm
— Alicia Roman (@AliciaRomanNBC) February 28, 2017
Be ALERT and Have a plan!
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In a statement Tuesday afternoon, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency told people to stay alert about severe weather warnings as the day goes on, according to NBC.
The NWS suggests Chicago area residents watch for dark clouds and listen for a tornado siren—and to take shelter immediately if we hear one.
There is a significant risk of thunderstorms, an elevated tornado risk, an "extreme" hail risk and a significant risk of wind damage from the storm. The NWS says that unseasonably mild and moist air, combined with strong winds, "will set the stage for strong to severe thunderstorms across the area." Watch for hail and isolated tornadoes.