High Wind Watch Issued
CHICAGO (STMW) - A severe thunderstorm expected to hit the Chicago area Tuesday has prompted a high wind watch for Tuesday and Wednesday, authorities announced Sunday evening.
The National Weather Service has issued a high wind watch for Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday for northern Illinois and northwest Indiana -- including Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties.
A high wind watch means there is the potential for a hazardous high wind event, according to the weather service's website. Sustained winds of at least 40 miles per hour and gusts of 58 mph or higher are possible.
An "intense storm system" is expected to develop over the upper Great Lakes Monday night and early Tuesday, the weather service said. If the storm develops as forecasted, wind gusts could reach 55 mph Tuesday afternoon and continue through Wednesday.
The weather service is predicting a 60 percent chance of thunderstorms Tuesday, but no rain Wednesday.
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