A round of strong to severe storms in the Chicago area, along with extreme heat and flood watches, could affect some outdoor events Monday night, including a large concert planned at Wrigley Field.
Journey, Steve Miller Band and Def Leopard are scheduled to perform at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Monday at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are still available, according to the website.
Tickets for the event indicate that the show will go on “come rain or shine.”
The entire Chicago area will face an “enhanced” severe weather risk Monday afternoon and evening, which is a level three on the Storm Prediction Center's severe weather scale. According to NBC 5 meteorologist Alicia Roman, any storm that forms would face “a variety of weather hazards,” including damaging winds of up to 75 mph, two-inch hail and the possibility of tornadoes .
In addition, the National Weather Service said “heavy downpours” could cause flash flooding. At 6 p.m., most of Chicago entered a “flood alert” as planned.
“Extensive flash flooding is expected across portions of northern Illinois on Saturday and Sunday evening, and additional heavy rains could cause rapid water rises and the potential for renewed severe flash flooding,” the National Weather Service said.
Below are details on when the storm is expected to arrive.
Timing of the storm
Roman said Monday is expected to be mostly dry, with storm chances increasing as the afternoon and evening progress. By around 4 p.m., the storm is expected to move across far western Illinois, with the potential for an isolated storm. Roman said storms are expected to hit counties west of Chicago between 6 and 8 p.m.
Strong to severe storms are expected in Chicago between 7 and 9 p.m., with most of the storm moving into northwest Indiana by 10 p.m.
Roman said they are expected to dissipate overnight and end around 1 a.m. or 2 a.m.
A heat warning was also issued on Monday, with “hazardous” levels of heat and humidity expected, particularly in the west and southwest, where “feeling” highs could reach 105 to 100 degrees.
“High temperatures and high humidity may lead to heat stroke,” the National Weather Service warned. “Drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned rooms, stay out of the sun, and check on relatives and neighbors.”
Monday's dew point is expected to be between 70 and 75 degrees, according to Roman.
“We have a very tropical air mass today,” Roman said.
The warning was scheduled to expire at 7 p.m. Monday, NWS reported.
The Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications issued an advisory Monday encouraging residents to prepare for heatstroke, with multiple cooling centers opening starting at 9 a.m.
Thunderstorms and tornadoes are expected as thunderstorms and tornadoes are expected as storms and high temperatures roll in after a damaging storm over the weekend. As of 12 noon Monday, more than 12,000 ComEd customers in the Chicago area were still without power.
You can find the complete weather forecast for the Chicago area this week here.
