Scott Baker of the National Weather Service said a Chicago tornado warning went out at 12:10 p.m. Monday for parts of Cook, Will and DuPage counties as storms moved southeast across northern Illinois. The warning remained in effect until 1:15 p.m. in those parts of the Chicago area.
Downers Grove rotation
The National Weather Service issued the warning after radar showed tornado-capable storms and a rotation in west suburban Downers Grove. The storms were moving southeast at 30 mph, and the agency had already placed parts of northern Cook County, Lake County, northeastern Kane County and southeastern McHenry County under a severe storm warning shortly before 11 a.m.
That earlier warning was set to expire at 1 p.m. Scott Baker said a second round of storms with an even higher chance of damaging wind was possible later Monday afternoon and evening, and he warned, "Being outside would be hazardous as these storms move through." He also said, "When thunder roars, go indoors."
Cook Will DuPage warnings
The storms carried more than one risk at the same time. Earlier Monday, lightning was the primary hazard, and the weather service also had a flash flood warning in effect until 4 p.m. Monday as the Chicago area stayed under a heat advisory with heat index values expected to reach 100 to 110.
Chicago’s cooling centers were open Monday during standard operating hours. Residents could go to Chicago Public Library locations, City Colleges of Chicago campus locations and Chicago Park District fieldhouses for relief from the heat, while Chicago Police Department’s 22 district stations were available around the clock. People could also call 3-1-1 to request well-being checks for neighbors and loved ones.
Chicago heat advisory
The City of Evanston said its cooling centers were open and urged people to stay hydrated, limit strenuous outdoor activity and check on vulnerable neighbors. A cold front was expected to move through overnight and bring cooler temperatures in the low 80s on Tuesday. For people in the warning area, the immediate decision Monday was whether to get indoors fast and stay there until the storms passed.
