Tornado Threat, Flash Flooding Possible With Wednesday's Severe Weather

Nearly a week after 15 tornadoes hit Illinois, a day of severe weather, including a round of dangerous storms, is possible on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

The weather service said showers and storms are expected in the morning into early afternoon. This first round of storms could bring locally heavy rain and flash flooding.

Then, a second round of "potentially more dangerous storms" is possible between 2 and 9 p.m. Wednesday, according to the weather service.

Locations for the second round of storms are dependent on a warm front position later this afternoon. The weather service said significant severe weather will be near and south of the front, with a lesser severe threat to the north of the warm front.

"Plausible scenarios range from the warm front reaching as far north as I-80, to remaining south of US-24," the weather service said.

Residents are urged to have multiple ways to receive warning information and to move indoors if they hear thunder.

Most of the Chicago area is under a flood watch from 10 a.m. Wednesday through the afternoon. Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible, the weather service said.

The strongest storms could bring up to 2 inches of rain in just an hour, according to the weather service.

"The flash flooding threat is area-wide and does not depend on the position of the warm front," the weather service said.

Areas to the south and west of Chicago have already been issued a tornado watch, including Adams, Brown, Bureau, Calhoun, Cass, Champaign, Christian, Clark, Coles, Cumberland, De Witt, Douglas, Edgar, Ford, Fulton, Greene, Grundy, Hancock, Iroquois, Jersey, Knox, La Salle, Livingston, Logan, Macon, Macoupin, Marshall, Mason, McDonough, McLean, Menard, Montgomery, Morgan, Moultrie, Peoria, Piatt, Pike, Putnam, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, Stark, Tazewell, Vermilion and Woodford counties.

The latest severe weather threat comes after tornadoes, severe storms and a derecho damaged homes and property and left more than 175,000 without power, including numerous businesses that were forced to temporarily shut down.