The National Weather Service briefly issued a tornado warning for southern Cook County Tuesday afternoon, saying a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was over Matteson and moving east at 10 mph.
“Damage to roofs, windows and vehicles will occur,” said a warning from the NWS. It is also likely that tree damage could occur.
The “dangerous” storm is expected to be near Park Forest, Homewood, Matteson, Country Club Hills, Hazel Crest, Richton Park, Flossmoor and Olympia Fields, the NWS said.
“You will NOT see any rotation as there is very heavy rain in the warned area,” the NWS said.
The warning was issued at 12:22 p.m. as “very heavy rain” moved through southern Cook County, including parts of Tinley Park, Oak Forest, Dolton, Oak Lawn and the south side of Chicago, according to the NWS.
“Flooding will occur in low-lying areas, including along roadsides,” the NWS said. “This includes portions of I-294, 57, 80 and 90.”
According to the NWS, the tornado warning expired at 12:45 p.m.
After the warning expired, a flash flood warning was issued for southeastern Cook and Will counties in Illinois until 3:45 p.m., according to the NWS. High water was reported on all highways, including portions of the Kennedy near the Jane Byrne Interchange.
The NWS also noted that Matteson, where the storm was originally located, received nearly 2.5 inches of rain in 30 minutes.
The rain and tornado warning comes as widespread rain and some storms are expected in the Chicago area, beginning early Tuesday morning and continuing into the early afternoon.
Showers are expected to taper off later Tuesday afternoon, NBC 5 meteorologist Alicia Roman said, but isolated rain could still linger overnight and into the early hours of Wednesday morning. Additional lake showers are possible later Wednesday morning in northwest Indiana, Roman said.
Temperatures on Tuesday will be between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius, Roman said, noting that the recent late summer heat – with temperatures between 27 and 32 degrees – may be over for good.
“Tonight temperatures will drop to 7 to 10 degrees,” Roman said.
Temperatures are expected to remain around 24 degrees for the rest of the week, Roman added.
