May 26--Severe thunderstorms are expected to batter the Chicago area until at least 9 p.m. Wednesday evening, bringing heavy rain and nickel-sized hail, weather officials said.
"Travelers should be aware of rapidly changing weather conditions," said Amy Seeley, meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
Winds are expected to gust up to 60 miles an hour but no warnings are in effect yet, Seeley said.
"With heavier thunderstorms, there could be some pounding of water on roadways," she said.
The National Weather service issued a hazardous weather outlook Wednesday afternoon for north central Illinois, northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana.
The hazards to be expected include elevated thunderstorm risk, limited hail risk, limited thunderstorm wind damage risk, limited flooding risk and limited fog risk.
"Thursday is expected to be dry with the potential for storms gradually increasing through the night," according to the alert. "There is a limited risk and few storms may become severe with a marginal hail threat if they develop."
