Severe storms, hail, high winds moving toward Chicago area

Isolated and severe scattered storms are expected Tuesday morning into the early afternoon for Chicago, with a chance of more severe weather later this evening.

Temperatures are expected to drop steadily throughout the day, reaching the low 40s on the lakefront through the daytime hours, rising briefly into the 50s Tuesday evening, and possibly reaching 60 near O’Hare and Midway airports, according to the National Weather Service.

Showers will be moving across the city around early to mid afternoon, meteorologists said.

By Tuesday evening, the chance of an isolated severe storm, with rumbles of thunder and possible hail the size of half-dollars will be the most severe threat, meteorologists said. Wind gusts could reach over 50 mph as the storms pass from southwest to northeast.

The entire Chicago area and northwest Indiana are in the slight risk area for severe weather, with the most-severe storms possible around 9 p.m. The weather is not expected to adversely effect the evening commute.

Storms should pass by midnight, with Wednesday a dry but very windy day across the area. Wind gusts in excess of 45 mph, possibly as high as 60 mph, possible.

On Lake Michigan, fog is expected to last through Tuesday morning and storms will make travel hazardous for small craft Tuesday evening. Winds will be increasing to gale force late Tuesday night into Wednesday evening.