Severe thunderstorms threaten Chicago, surrounding area

Fresh off Chicago’s wettest month of May on record, the city is poised for a soggy start to June.

Severe thunderstorms are expected to hit the Chicago area Saturday afternoon and evening, with large hail and strong winds to accompany them.

The National Weather Service issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for the eastern and central portions of Cook County Saturday, and a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for other counties in Northeast Illinois, Northwest Indiana and parts of Wisconsin.

The warning, which is in effect until 4:15 p.m., was raised after a thunderstorm was spotted moving east over Riverside, the weather service said. The watch applies to Boone, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Kane Kendall, Lake, Lee, McHenry, Ogle, Will and Winnebago counties in Illinois, and is in effect until 9 .m. the weather service said.

Thunderstorms are expected to move through the area until the late evening, the weather service said. Strong rains and rapidly cooling temperatures mean that the area could see hail as large as golf balls and winds reaching speeds of 70 miles per hour.

Temperatures will drop to the low 50s Saturday evening before returning to the mid-to-high 60s Sunday and Monday, in what are expected to be a dry couple of days before a fresh batch of thunderstorms Tuesday night.

A total of 8.25 inches of rain fell across the Chicago area last month, nearly 5 inches more than the average, forecasters said.