Update: Some small thunderstorm cells have popped up ahead of the main storm line at about 8:45 p.m.
Arlington Heights and the surrounding communities have been under a National Weather Service Severe Thunderstorm Watch for most of the day, Wednesday. At 8:00 p.m. thunderstorms are within striking range as radar indicated severe storms tracking over Rockford, Illinois in a northwesterly to southeasterly direction. The storms are approaching speeds of about 20-55 mph, and could be in the Arlington Heights area by about 9:30 p.m.
A Severe Thunderstorm Warning was issued for Algonquin, Cary, Crystal Lake, Lake in the Hills, Rockford, Woodstock and nearby communities at 7:57 p.m. Wednesday. Winds speeds of 60 to 70 mph were reported about 5 miles south of the Chicago Rockford International Airport.
AT 754 PM CDT…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE
HAIL…AND DESTRUCTIVE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 70 MPH. THESE STORMS
WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM ROSCOE TO ROCKFORD TO
ROCKFORD AIRPORT TO STILLMAN VALLEY…AND MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 55
MPH.
The storms are expected near Lake in the Hills about 8:35 p.m.
If the storms maintain strength, severe weather is likely to cross our area between 9:15 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is likely to be issued about that time.
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