Northern IL Update: Most of northern enhanced risk under tornado watch now with some slightly ominous wording from NWS Chicago:
URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Tornado Watch Number 26
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
1220 PM CDT Thu Mar 14 2019
The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a
* Tornado Watch for portions of
Northeastern Illinois
Extreme northwestern Indiana
Lake Michigan
* Effective this Thursday afternoon from 1220 PM until 500 PM
CDT.
* Primary threats include...
A few tornadoes likely with a couple intense tornadoes possible
Isolated damaging wind gusts to 70 mph possible
Isolated large hail events to 1 inch in diameter possible
SUMMARY...A broken arc of low-topped supercells is expected this
afternoon across northeastern Illinois. The storm environment will
favor a threat for tornadoes, one or two of which could be strong,
along with isolated large hail and damaging gusts. The storms will
likely peak in intensity by 1-3 pm CDT, and could affect the Chicago
metropolitan area.
The tornado watch area is approximately along and 50 statute miles
east and west of a line from 85 miles north northeast of Marseilles
IL to 25 miles east southeast of Bloomington IL. For a complete
depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update
(WOUS64 KWNS WOU6).
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
REMEMBER...A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch
area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for
threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements
and possible warnings.
&&
OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...
WW 24...
WW 25...
AVIATION...Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
surface and aloft to 1 inch. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 400. Mean
storm motion vector 23050.
...Thompson