ABC7 Meteorologist Phil Schwarz says the greatest threat of severe weather Monday afternoon is far southwest of Chicago.
"Primarily places like Ottawa, down towards Streator, Pontiac, Coal City. You're going to have to get south and southwest, maybe even into Rensselaer and Remington in northwest Indiana," said Schwarz.
A hazardous weather outlook issued by the National Weather Service warns that rain, lightning, hail, damaging winds and even a tornado are possible Monday.
A strong warm front will "bisect" the area Monday afternoon, bringing temperatures into the 50s near Chicago and as high as the 70s south of Interstate 80, according to the weather service.
As a result, scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop over central Illinois and move north into the Chicago area Monday afternoon, possibly including hail the size of a half-dollar, damaging winds and even a tornado, according to the weather service.
The intensity of the storms should wane by Monday evening, according to the weather service, though thunderstorms could return Tuesday afternoon and early evening.
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
