Severe weather is possible on Sunday in the northern Illinois area due to the possibility of thunderstorms bringing high winds and tornadoes, which prompted a tornado watch for part of the area. | Graphic via NWS Chicago

A tornado watch was issued for part of the Chicagoland area as forecasters say strong to severe thunderstorms could bring damaging winds and tornadoes Sunday afternoon.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a hazardous weather outlook for northeast Illinois on Sunday morning.

The outlook includes Lake, McHenry, Boone, Will, Cook, Winnebago, Ogle, Lee, DeKalb, Kane, DuPage, LaSalle, Kendall, Grundy, Kankakee, Livingston, Iroquois and Ford counties.

A tornado watch was also issued on Sunday afternoon for Cook, Kane, DuPage, Will, Grundy, Kankakee, Kendall, Iroquois, Livingston and Ford counties.

Severe thunderstorms are possible Sunday afternoon, primarily around and southeast of a line from LaSalle County to the northern Chicago suburbs, the outlook said.

The NWS said all modes of severe weather are possible, including damaging hail, damaging winds and tornadoes.

The primary severe weather threat window for Lake and McHenry counties will be between 2-4 p.m.

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The NWS said periods of thunderstorms are also possible late Tuesday night into Wednesday across the entire area.

Some of the thunderstorms may become severe. Heavy rain and localized flooding will also be possible.

Residents are urged to have multiple ways to get weather warnings and take shelter if a warning is issued.