The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch as storms move into northern Illinois Friday evening, days after tornadoes went through the area.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued the severe thunderstorm watch late Friday afternoon for McHenry, DeKalb, LaSalle and other counties to the west and south. The watch is in effect until 10 p.m.
Strong to potentially severe storms are moving through northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana Friday evening into early Saturday morning.
The NWS said the severe threat for the storms is a “level 2 out of 5.”
The primary concerns include lightning, heavy rain, damaging wind and hail.
The storms are entering the western counties between 4-5 p.m. and moving eastward through the night.
“A brief tornado or two cannot be ruled out,” a hazardous weather outlook said.
The possibility of heavy rainfall could result in some areas experiencing flash flooding.
Forecasters said they recommend residents have multiple ways to get weather warnings and take cover if one is issued.
On Thursday, the NWS confirmed an EF-1 tornado hit Huntley and two other tornadoes touched down in Barrington and Long Grove Wednesday evening.
The National Weather Service (NWS) said a survey team was sent to Lake County and McHenry County.
The team confirmed three tornadoes had touched down in the two counties.
The first one, rated EF-1, occurred in Huntley and had a maximum wind speed of 90 mph, the NWS said.
The two others, both rated EF-0, occurred in Barrington and Long Grove.
The Barrington one had a maximum wind speed of 80 mph and the Long Grove one had a maximum speed of 70 mph.
The total number of confirmed tornadoes that touched down Wednesday in northern Illinois is at 11.