Tornado watch issued as storms push through Chicago area Monday

The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch until Monday night as a line of storms moves over the Chicago area.

The watch will be in effect until 9 p.m. as a system capable of producing a “few” tornados rolls through northern Illinois and parts of northwest Indiana, the weather service said.

Winds could gust up to 70 mph as the brunt of the storms hit Monday afternoon and evening, according to the National Weather Service. Isolated hail the size of ping-pong balls is also possible.

Rain will start in the late morning and storms will grow in intensity throughout the day, the weather service predicted.

“Some severe storms are possible, especially in the afternoon into the early evening, and may be capable of producing damaging winds, hail and even isolated tornados,” the weather service said in its advisory.

Temperatures will rise to the upper 70s Monday and continue to hit the 70s throughout the mid-week. There’s another chance of rain Wednesday and Thursday.