The Chicago Board of Elections has urged voters to get to polls before strong to severe thunderstorms are forecast to move into northern Illinois Tuesday afternoon and into Wednesday.
National Weather Service Chicago said that main threats would be damaging winds, hail and tornadoes.
Areas near and west of I-39 are at enhanced risk of severe storms, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Ricky Castro.
Wind could re-intensify and provide a severe threat through the metro area from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. There is more uncertainty later, after 7 p.m., Castro said. Storms are likely to pick up again Wednesday morning between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Eighteen tornadoes tore through Illinois Friday evening, with additional areas expected to be surveyed in the coming days, the National Weather Service confirmed.
Though there is still uncertainty about whether these thunderstorms will bring tornadoes, professor of atmospheric sciences at University of Illinois Robert Trapp told the Tribune Monday that danger for tornadoes is highest when a severe storm forms ahead of a cold front.
“It does happen fairly often, especially at this time of the year,” he said. “The situation last week and this week is one of those.”
Forecast maps for Tuesday look similar to Friday.
Following a tornado that tore through Belvidere Friday night which led to a fatal roof collapse and a different tornado that killed three people in New Hebron, weather authorities are warning people to stay alert and prepared.
Check back for updates.
