Strong afternoon storms Tuesday in Chicago bring hail, damaging wind, possible tornadoes

CHICAGO (CBS) — A second round of storms hit the Chicago area Tuesday afternoon, bringing large hail, damaging winds, and warnings of possible tornadoes.

That wave moved out of the area by 3 p.m. However, there remains an enhanced risk of tornadoes across southern Cook County and into Northwest Indiana until around 5 p.m.

The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for LaPorte County, Indiana, until 4:15 p.m. central time, after a strong storm capable of producing a tornado was spotted near Michigan City, moving northeast at 45 mph.

A tornado warning also was issued earlier for Boone and McHenry counties in Illinois, but that warning expired at 2:30 p.m.

Multiple severe thunderstorm warnings also were issued in the city, suburbs, and northwest Indiana during the mid-afternoon hours.

Strong winds, reaching 60 mph to 70 mph, drove through southern Cook County and into the South Side of Chicago around 2:30 p.m.  Tinley Park saw golf-ball-sized hail and Orland Park saw ping-pong-sized hail, according to the National Weather Service. Midway International Airport saw nickel-sized hail.

A tornado watch has been issued through 8 p.m. for most of the Chicago area – including Cook, DuPage, Kankakee, Lake, and Will counties in Illinois; and Benton, Jasper, Lake, Newton, and Porter counties in Indiana.

The NOAA Storm Prediction Center placed most of the Chicago area under a slight (2 out of 5) of severe weather Tuesday afternoon, with parts of northwest Indiana under an enhanced (3 out of 5) risk as sunshine and humidity fire off scattered powerful thunderstorms.

Though large hail and damaging winds are the most likely threat from Tuesday afternoon's storms, there is a higher-than-normal risk of a tornado, including a potentially significant tornado in northwest Indiana.

Tornado warnings are possible at any time through 6 p.m.

CBS News Chicago will break in on streaming news and on broadcast with updates as conditions warrant.

In a tornado warning, seek a basement or the lowest floor of a sturdy structure, away from outside walls and windows.

A few additional storms are possible on Wednesday, generally south of Interstate 80, and then cooler weather blows in on Thursday.

Tonight: An isolated storm is possible. Low: 55

Tomorrow: Mostly cloudy with an isolated thunderstorm. High: 76

Thursday: Cloudy and cooler with periods of rain. High: 57