CHICAGO (WLS) — The Chicago area is bracing for a second round of thunderstorms Friday evening as a cold front moves in from Canada.
The National Weather Service has much of the Chicago area under a Level 3 risk for severe weather.
There are two main chances for storms to develop Friday afternoon, according to ABC7 Meteorologist Larry Mowry.
A lake breeze began developing as of 2 p.m., and an isolated storm could develop along that lake breeze before 4 p.m., but it’s not clear that there’s enough energy in the atmosphere for a storm to get going.
The more likely chance of storm sis between 4 and7 p.m. along the cold front moving in from Canada, Mowry said. Those storms will likely develop either in southern Wisconsin, northwest Illinois or over the northern suburbs, or a combination of those locations.
Severe weather is looking increasingly likely with any storms that develop, Mowry said. Severe weather risks include very large hail, high wind and very heavy downpours. Flash flooding is a concern. There is also a threat of isolated, spin-up tornadoes with these storms.
Mowry said storms are likely to liner into the evening and potentially into the overnight hours, though with less severity.
The first round of thunderstorms blew through in the early morning hours, prompting thunderstorm warnings in northwest Indiana. At about 6:30 a.m., O’Hare Airport issued a ground stop due to thunderstorms, which has since been lifted.
Check out the full 7-day forecast
The first round of storms moved out by around 8 a.m.
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The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Warning for Grundy, Kankakee, LaSalle, Livingston and southern Will counties in Illinois and Newton County in Indiana until 9 p.m. Friday.
A Heat Advisory is also in effect for Boone, southern Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Kendall, McHenry, northern and eastern Will counties in Illinois and Lake, Porter and Jasper counties in Indiana until 9 p.m. Friday.
The city of Chicago has several cooling areas for residents during the heat. Chicago Public Libraries and Chicago Park District fieldhouses will also have air conditioning.
Cooling area locations:
Englewood Center – 1140 W. 79th St., open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Garfield Center – 10 S. Kedzie Ave., open all day
King Center – 4314 S. Cottage Grove, open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
North Area Center – 845 W. Wilson Ave., open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
South Chicago Center – 8650 S. Commercial Ave., open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Trina Davila Center – 4312 W. North Ave., open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
