Aug 18, 05:32 PM

Severe Storms Threaten Chicago Area With Flash Flooding, Damaging Winds

The National Weather Service warned that a line of strong to severe thunderstorms is expected to sweep across northern Illinois, northwest Indiana and southern Wisconsin on Monday, Aug. 18, beginning early in the afternoon and persisting into the late evening. Forecasters said the most intense activity is likely between 1 p.m. and 10 p.m., with storms capable of producing damaging straight-line winds, brief tornadoes, frequent lightning and rainfall rates of up to two inches an hour. Localized pockets could see a swift 2–5 inches of rain, heightening the risk of flash flooding, particularly in urban areas that were saturated by heavy weekend rains. Residents in the Chicago and Milwaukee metropolitan areas were advised to monitor weather alerts and have multiple means of receiving warnings as the system moves through.