Severe thunderstorm warning in effect for parts of Chicago area as storms move down – NBC Chicago

Severe weather remains a possibility in the Chicago area Tuesday night, but earlier warnings have been lapsed as the storms weaken.

Earlier warnings of severe thunderstorms in McHenry, Kane, DuPage and Cook counties were allowed to expire throughout the evening, but at this time gales with gusty winds and torrential rain are still pushing through the region.

A brief tornado warning was issued for McHenry County, but was lifted after approximately 15 minutes.

A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect through midnight in McHenry, Lake, DeKalb, Kane, DuPage, Cook, Kendall and Will counties in Illinois and in Lake and Porter counties in Indiana.

According to the NBC 5 Storm Team, the main threat from the storms will be damaging winds, with some gusts potentially exceeding 75 miles per hour in the second storm wave, which is expected to hit after 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Both storm waves are also likely to bring heavy rainfall, which could potentially cause flooding in areas already heavily soaked from Monday’s downpours.

The main threat from these storms will be gusty winds after 10 p.m., officials said, with gusts of more than 75 miles per hour possible. This could cause significant damage to trees and power lines in affected areas, with most of this damage expected to occur west and southwest of the city of Chicago.

Torrential rains could also cause flooding if the storms pull through, officials said.