Potentially severe storms forecast for Friday evening
After a foggy start to Friday, potentially severe storms are expected for Friday evening.
ABC7 Accuweather Meteorologist Tracy Butler said no rain was expected in the morning, but foggy conditions created terrible visibility. Dense Fog Warning will be in effect for much of the region until 10am
The weather will warm up in the afternoon and the evening will remain dry before the storm.
Potentially severe storms could begin moving into the western suburbs between 5pm and 7pm, bringing heavy rain and strong winds, Butler said. It will then depart for the city between 8-9pm.
The Storm Prediction Center keeps most of the Chicago area at a Level 3 Risk for severe weather, except for Northwest Indiana, which is at a Level 2 Risk.
Citizens are preparing for floods
Residents brace for flooding along the Des Plaines River
Many people in both the city and the suburbs are already dealing with flooding as they brace for more rain this week.
Des Plaines River remains a concern with water levels actually high near Lake Avenue
People living near the Fox River are also looking skyward. They’ve already experienced some flooding.
And Chicago wasn’t spared either. The city said they received hundreds of calls about flooded streets and flooded basements.
Illinois is seeing a very active and severe weather season, forecasters said.
“With all the events we’re having, people see these things and hopefully they’re not afraid of it, but I hope they’ll educate themselves,” said NIU meteorology professor Victor Gensini. “I hope they listen to ABC7. I hope they listen to the National Weather Service and get the official watches and warnings and figure out if I need to pay attention in the forecast this week. Because there’s a possibility of severe weather and then they know what to do if watches and warnings are actually issued. If you’re under a tornado warning, where do you go? If you’re in a vehicle, do you go? We always tell people to put as much walls between you and the tornado as possible.”
The Des Plaines River is expected to reach nearly 15 feet today or over the weekend, but officials hope warm weather will allow water levels to drop after the storms pass.
