Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued For Chicago Area

ILLINOIS — A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued, as multiple waves of severe weather could move through the Chicago area on Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, La Salle and Will counties in the Chicago area. The watch is in effect until 5 p.m. Thursday.

There are two rounds of severe weather possible Thursday. The first is expected Thursday afternoon, from 1 to 5 p.m., along and south of Interstate 80. The weather service said this round of storms may be the most damaging.

"Areas south of I-80 are favored, but areas to the north are not out of the woods," the weather service said on Twitter. Storms could also miss the Chicago area and move further south.

The second window is from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, near the Illinois-Wisconsin border, according to the weather service.

All severe hazards would be possible with this storm, including damaging winds, hail and possibly a tornado or two, the weather service said.