MIDWEST — The National Weather Service upgraded the entire Chicago area to an "enhanced" risk of severe thunderstorms for Tuesday, August 4, 2026. Forecast models indicate wind gusts could exceed 80 miles per hour in the Chicago area on Tuesday.

Sack noted that precipitation amounts would vary across the region. "Some of these could be locally heavy downpours as well," he said. He added that all the threats are on the table regarding the potential for severe weather impacts.

The severe weather risk area includes the Chicago, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Scranton, Pennsylvania, metro areas. Widespread rain totals of 2 to 3 inches are expected from Chicago to Cleveland. Localized pockets of 3 to 5 inches of rain are possible in northern Indiana and Ohio.

NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Kevin Jeanes advised residents to stay informed as storms approached. "Right around lunch hour, you need to make sure you have a way to receive alerts," Jeanes said. "And if you have outdoor plans, then just be sure that you're paying attention to what's going on."

Sack provided further timing details for the evening hours. "7 p.m. still looking at storms moving their way on, through and into the midnight timeframe as well," he said.

The Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central Illinois, northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana, with an associated Level 1 of 5 Damaging Wind Risk up to 65 mph. This outlook presents a different risk assessment than the enhanced level applied to the broader Chicago area.

Tinley Park activated its Emergency Operations Center to respond to storm damage. The mayor of Portage, Indiana, signed a Local Emergency Proclamation following catastrophic damage in the city.

Guests and tenants at Navy Pier sheltered in place in a parking garage during the storms. Heavy rain in Chicago caused roads to flood in parts of the metro area on Sunday afternoon, preceding the Tuesday event.

One tornado tracked from near Monee through Crete in eastern Will County, with damage consistent with up to an EF-1 rating. A second tornado tracked from near southern Orland Park toward Flossmoor in southern Cook County and possibly parts of Will County, with damage indicating at least an EF-1 rating.

Why It Matters

FEMA has issued 297 federal disaster declarations for severe storm incidents in Illinois since the programme began. The upgrade to an enhanced risk level signifies a heightened probability of significant weather events, requiring sustained public attention and emergency readiness across multiple states.

Timeline

An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through Menasha, Wisconsin on July 27. Heavy rain in Chicago caused roads to flood in parts of the metro area on Sunday afternoon, August 2, 2026. A tornado was spotted Sunday evening near Annawan, Illinois, on August 2, 2026. Videos on social media showed damaged homes and a derailed train in Ransom, Illinois, on August 2, 2026. FOX Weather Exclusive Storm Tracker Brandon Copic spotted the tornado near Annawan, Illinois, on August 2, 2026.

NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Pete Sack said, "On Tuesday, here we go again. By noon, you could see another wave of thunderstorms approaching. So we'll see showers and storms as we go into Tuesday afternoon. We're going to be looking at again the threat for some severe weather with those storms," on August 3, 2026. NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center issued a Level 2 out of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms for a corridor from northern and central Illinois to eastern Pennsylvania, including parts of northern West Virginia and western Maryland, on August 3, 2026. NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Pete he said, "7 p.m. still looking at storms moving their way on, through and into the midnight timeframe as well," on August 3, 2026.

What's New

NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist he said, "On Tuesday, here we go again. By noon, you could see another wave of thunderstorms approaching. So we'll see showers and storms as we go into Tuesday afternoon. We're going to be looking at again the threat for some severe weather with those storms." The National Weather Service stated that much of the Chicago area sits under an 'enhanced' risk of severe weather, a level three out of five, according to the Storm Prediction Center, on the day of the event.

NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist he said, "7 p.m. still looking at storms moving their way on, through and into the midnight timeframe as well." NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist he said, "Some of these could be locally heavy downpours as well." NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist he said, "all the threats are on the table." The Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central Illinois..northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana, with an associated Level 1 of 5 Damaging Wind Risk..up to 65 mph. NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Kevin Jeanes said, "Right around lunch hour, you need to make sure you have a way to receive alerts. And if you have outdoor plans, then just be sure that you're paying attention to what's going on." The entire Chicago area was upgraded to an “enhanced” risk of severe thunderstorms for Tuesday.

How Sources Differ

Sources differ on the level of risk for central Illinois. The NOAA Storm Prediction Center outlook states that NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center issued a Level 2 out of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms for a corridor from northern and central Illinois to eastern Pennsylvania, including parts of northern West Virginia and western Maryland. Weather.gov states that The Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central Illinois..northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana, with an associated Level 1 of 5 Damaging Wind Risk..up to 65 mph.

Sources differ on the number of customers in Illinois without power. The ComEd report states that An estimated 250,000 ComEd customers across northern Illinois remained without power as of 5:45 p.m. Tuesday. The Utility company report states that More than 1,000 customers were without power early Monday in LaSalle County, Illinois.