Chicago, northern Illinois under severe weather watch; 2 to 3 inches of rain, high winds expected

Much of northern Illinois is under a severe thunderstorm watch until early Monday morning, as the area faces a threat of “torrential rain,” according to the National Weather Service.Storms began developing near Rockford about 7 p.m. and are expected to keep moving east and southeast, though some storms are developing ahead of the existing storm, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Casey Sullivan. A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for parts of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin until 1 AM CDT “It’s difficult to say now” what areas would be hit hardest, Sullivan said, though he said some places could see 2 to 3 inches of rain with the potential of flooding. The storms are expected to hit Chicago, which is also under a flood watch until 4 a.m. Monday, before 11 p.m.“The severe weather threat is mainly wind,” Sullivan told the Sun-Times, noting gusts could swell above 58 mph. The storms are expected to clear out of northern Illinois by 1 a.m. after passing through the southeast suburbs, though some could linger longer, he said.“If we issue a severe thunderstorm warning, go inside to your safe room,” he said. And “do not drive through flooded roadways. Find an alternate route, you never know how deep the water will be.”Another round of more severe storms is expected Monday evening, though a heat advisory may come before the storms hit, with heat indexes expected to reach between 100 and 110 degrees.The city will open its cooling centers from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday in response to the anticipated heat, though the Garfield Center will be open 24 hours a day for anyone needing “shelter placement,” according to a release from the city’s Department of Family and Support Services. Here are the locations:City officials also suggested people make use of other city facilities to keep cool, such as Chicago Public Library locations, Chicago Park District fieldhouses, Chicago Police Department district stations and the seven City Colleges of Chicago main campuses, “as well as pools and splash pads located throughout the city.” Residents can find the nearest cooling centers by visiting or calling 311.The agency’s Homeless Services outreach delegate agencies will also have street outreach teams working “across the city.”City Colleges of Chicago locations available for cooling:The city also listed Salvation Army locations in Chicago that will open as cooling centers Monday.(5/6) Dangerous heat and humidity will build across the region on Monday, with peak heat indices in the 100-110 degree range. If confidence in storms holding off until mid-afternoon increases, Heat Advisories will be needed for the region.