Storms are losing energy after crossing Illinois from West Central Illinois Thursday afternoon, but there is still a risk of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes.
Damaging winds occurred in Savanna, Illinois — downing trees and stripping some bark. There were over 20 tornado warnings downstate.
Severe thunderstorm activity and tornado activity continues Thursday evening, and was approaching Chicagoland around 7:00 p.m. A Tornado Watch was initially issued at 1:45 p.m. for many counties in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin but excluded Lake, Cook, Will, Kankakee, and Livingston County in northeast Illinois. At 6:52 p.m. the Tornado Watch was extended to Lake, Cook, and Will counties in Illinois, but not in Kankakee County and Livingston County.
LIVE – TORNADO COVERAGE THU APR 2 2026 – Storm Chasers On The Ground…
Strong gusty south winds, gusted to at least 46 mph occurred Thursday afternoon, even outside of thunderstorms. A Wind Advisory for all of northern Illinois was issued at 10:36 a.m. and expired at 7:00 p.m. Thursday.
Higher winds are still possible with severe thunderstorms. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning with 70 MPH winds possible was activated at 7:30 p.m. for the following areas …
Kendall County in northeastern Illinois…
Northern La Salle County in north central Illinois…
Northwestern Will County in northeastern Illinois…
Southern De Kalb County in north central Illinois…
Northwestern Grundy County in northeastern Illinois…
Southern Kane County in northeastern Illinois…
Western DuPage County in northeastern Illinois…
Additional Severe Thunderstorm Warnings are likely in Chicagoland into the evening. The Tornado Watch expires at 11:00 p.m.
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin has an unusual Severe Thunderstorm Warning with an existing air temperature of only 39°F. The area is warned for the risk of hail, not the risk of wind.
There is another threat for severe weather Friday and Saturday, but the servere threats are more likely in southern Iowa and northern Missouri.
Weather Radar at 2:15 p.m. shows precipitation with embed thunderstorms moving southwest to northeast.
Clouds show a flow from the southwest with some clearing in east Iowa and much of Missouri.
See also Arlingtoncardinal.com/clouds
O’HARE FORECAST …
Tornado Watch Expires 11PM
Thursday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely before midnight, then isolated showers between midnight and 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. Breezy, with a west wind 20 to 25 mph decreasing to 15 to 20 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Friday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Temperature falling to near 42 by 8pm, then rising to around 53 during the remainder of the night. East northeast wind 10 to 15 mph becoming south after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63. Breezy, with a west southwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 51.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37.
LAKE TEMPS …
Southern Lake Michigan Water Temperatures
National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville IL
903 AM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026
Lake Michigan Water Temperatures…
Chicago Shore………..44.
Chicago Crib…………44.
Waukegan Buoy………..38.
Winthrop Harbor Buoy….38.
Michigan City………..42.
South Mid Lake Buoy…..38.
&&
M is for missing data that is normally available. Chicago Shore, Chicago Crib, and Michigan City are read every day of the year.
Measured at a depth of 60 ft for Chicago Crib and 30 ft for Michigan City. May not represent surface temperature.
april.chicagoweatherstation.com
Chicago Weather Forecast for your MAC/PC/TABLET includes surrounding suburbs.
^^ MOBILE? USE VOICE MIC ^^
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