In Chicago, a significant weather event is anticipated on Wednesday, with potential for large tornadoes posing a threat to the area.
The National Weather Service has announced a Tornado Watch for the counties of Grundy, LaSalle, and Livingston, which will remain active until 3 p.m.
The Storm Prediction Center has classified regions to the south of Chicago, specifically Kankakee County in Illinois and Newton and Jasper counties in northwest Indiana, as facing a Level 4 severe weather risk on Wednesday.
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Chicago’s South Side and its southern suburbs are at a Level 3 risk for severe weather, while the North Side and northern suburbs are at a Level 2 risk.
A series of showers and storms is expected to sweep through from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. According to ABC7 Accuweather Meteorologist Tracy Butler, the initial wave of storms carries a low threat of being severe, but there is a concern for flash flooding. By noon, some areas may experience up to two inches of rainfall.
The entire Chicago area will be under under a Flood Watch from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Wednesday.
Butler said the highest risk of severe weather will come in the mid-t0late afternoon and evening, from 2-9 p.m. Butler said the risk includes high winds up to 75-miles-per-hour as well as a risk for large tornadoes south of I-80.
Storms come as tornado cleanup continues
The threat of more bad weather couldn’t come at a worse time.
People are still struggling to clean up and recover from last week’s tornadoes.
They’re now worried what will come next
It’s expected to be another challenging day for people in Merrillville, Indiana as they clean up after weathering an EF-2 tornado with winds up to 135 miles-per-hour.
The storm caused extensive damage to hundreds of homes and local structures.
Fortunately, no serious injuries have been reported.
NIPSCO is still working to restore service to those who lost power. Most of those impacted are in Merrillville.
Joe and Marlene Trevino survived the storm, but lost their home to the tornado and say more bad weather will make it even harder to recover.
“I came out of our garage, and all the debris are all over, and I can’t believe our house is gone just like that, you know? I’m just under three minutes– gone,” Marlene said.
“Things were tough and tight as it was, and then now we got this,” Joe said.
Local officials are obviously on alert as well.
There’s a tornado recovery website at merrillville.in.gov/tornado, is available for people in Merrillville with helpful resources, especially as this next round of storms heads our way.
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