Severe thunderstorm watch issued for parts of northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin

 

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH has been issued for the following counties: Stephenson, Jo Daviess, Carroll, Whiteside, Ogle, Lee, and Winnebago in northern Illinois and for Green and Rock counties in southern Wisconsin until 11pm.

A break from the storms earlier this afternoon has allowed our atmosphere to recover, building back instability (energy) to help fuel a few storms this evening. Thunderstorms over northeast Missouri have quickly developed and turned severe over the last hour and are moving northeast, following an axis of higher instability into northwest Illinois.

Locally, the highest risk for severe storms will be along and west of I-39 with more of an isolated severe risk to the east. The severe threat will diminish quite a bit east of where the severe thunderstorm watch is currently.

The biggest threats with any thunderstorm this evening will be from locally damaging winds, but an isolated quick spin-up tornado can't be ruled out - especially over western Illinois. The window for storms this evening will be from 6pm/7pm to 10pm with storms moving from southwest/west to east/northeast.

Make sure you have multiple ways to receive any warnings should they be issued and be prepared to seek shelter should a warning be issued.