Strong winds and thunderstorms rolled through the Chicago area Tuesday evening, ending a week-long period of summer-like temperatures for the area.
A tornado watch covering much of northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin was issued around 2 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. Storms started moving through the area around 4 p.m. and the watch expired about 8 p.m.
A tornado watch has been issued for parts of Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin until 8 PM CST pic.twitter.com/13fIItspoX
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) November 10, 2020
A wind gust of 79 mph was recorded at Aurora Municipal Airport in the west suburb, the weather service said. The city’s Police Department urged motorists to watch out for downed trees and power lines on roads.
In Chicago, the CTA reported train service delays due to debris on the tracks as the storms moved in from the west over the city. The severe weather lasted about an hour or two in any spot, the weather service said.
The storms are part of a cold front that will end a record-breaking seven straight days of 70-degree November weather, blowing past the previous five-straight days of similar weather in 1953.
Chicago residents could wake up Wednesday to a windchill in the 20s, according to the National Weather Service.
Concern has increased for severe risk later today, including threat for damaging wind gusts & a few tornadoes. T-storms will be fast moving, so threat will be brief, ~1-2 hrs in any spot. Timing: ~3pm-9pm from west to east. Light yellow shaded area more favored. #ilwx #inwx pic.twitter.com/FaaiPvrOLk
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) November 10, 2020
Gusts up to 45 mph will continue until midnight as temperatures keep dropping.
Meanwhile, temperatures will plummet overnight, making Wednesday morning feel between 40 and 50 degrees cooler than Tuesday, weather service meteorologist Todd Kluber said.
Wednesday’s high is forecast near 50 degrees.
Tuesday will be the last day of record warmth before a strong cold front moves through late afternoon and evening, bringing showers, storms and strong winds to the area. Temps will quickly drop behind the front with seasonable temps then expected the rest of the week. #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/qKNqcZUjTj
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) November 9, 2020
