Many across the Chicago area Wednesday woke up stormy weather with rain and thunder as the first of multiple rounds of showers and storms pushed through much of Illinois and northwest Indiana.
“It’s going to be wet out there this morning,” NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Iisha Scott warned. “Your commute is going to be slick.”
MORE: Chicago-area residents asked to delay showers, use less water ahead of heavy rain
As of 5 a.m., Live Doppler 5 Radar showed heavy rain, lightning and even hail pummeling counties to the south and west, including Will, Kankakee, Grundy, LaSalle and moving into DuPage and southern Cook.
“The south suburbs have really been getting soaked this morning,” Scott said. “The storms are packing a punch.”
Gusty storms will continue over the next few hours, Scott said, lifting northeast as the morning goes on, with some seeing a break in the rain by late morning.
As of early Wednesday, traffic was already starting to build, NBC 5 traffic reporter Kye Martin said, as were flight cancellations. According to FlyChicago, Midway International Airport was reporting 27 flights canceled.
Next round of storms
While Wednesday mornings storms were strong, they were non-severe, Scott said. Into the afternoon and evening however, severe weather chances will ramp up, with much of the Chicago area under an “enhanced” risk. According to the Storm Prediction Center, “enhanced” ranks as level three of five.
Along the Wisconsin-Illinois state line, counties to the north and west will be under a “slight” risk of severe weather, which ranks as level two of five.
According to Scott, showers and storms Wednesday afternoon and evening would not be as widespread. Still, the greatest threats associated would be flash flooding, damaging winds of up to 60 miles per hour, 1-inch hail and even tornadoes.
Timing of the strongest storms are likely to occur between 12 p.m. and 8 p.m., Scott said.
We continue to monitor the potential for severe weather Wednesday afternoon and evening. All severe hazards are on the table with this potential. Stay aware of the weather tomorrow! #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/VvcEfJfGU4
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) April 1, 2025Outside of the storms, Wednesday will be windy, Scott said, with gusts up to 40 mph at times throughout the day. At 12 p.m., a wind advisory will go into effect for LaSalle, Grundy, and Kankakee Counties in Illinois and Newton and Dubois County in Indiana, according to the National Weather Service.
Wednesday will also be warm, with temperatures in the 60s and nearing 70, Scott said. Temperatures would drop into the 50s Thursday and Friday, with the next chance for rain coming Friday evening.
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