National Weather Service officials are expecting Wednesday waves of showers and thunderstorms to hit the Chicago area capable of producing damaging winds and large hail and possibly tornadoes.

Hurricane-force winds were also reported in parts of the area. Wind gusts topped out at 81 mph in Valparaiso, Indiana, 75 mph in Lakes of the Four Seasons in Indiana, and 74 mph in Gary, Indiana, and Lynwood, Illinois.

There is a tornado watch in place for the afternoon and evening in Chicago's south suburbs and Northwest Indiana.

Several states in the central U.S. were hit hard overnight by a deadly storm that reportedly caused flash flooding and even destructive tornadoes.

Many across the Chicago area Wednesday woke up to stormy weather with rain, thunder and more as the first of multiple rounds of showers and storms pushed through much of Illinois and northwest Indiana.

Tornado season is here. Weather data tracked by The Courier Journal showed at least 66 tornadoes were recorded in Kentucky in 2024, but the weather phenomena come with a lot of myths.

Starting early Wednesday, the area could see showers, thunderstorms and wind gusts up to 30 mph, the National Weather Service said. Chicago's OEMC is advising residents to reduce water usage to put less stress on sewers.

Areas along and south of I-55 and into Northwest Indiana will have the greatest instability, especially building between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. All modes of severe weather are on the table with the warm frontal passage this afternoon through 7 p.