Staff report
7:15 p.m. CDT, April 10, 2011

A tornado watch has been issued until 1 a.m. Monday for several Illinois counties but not Cook County, the National Weather Service said.

The counties covered by the tornado watch include DeKalb, Kane, Kendall and McHenry, the weather service said.
Showers and thunderstorms -- some might be severe -- are forecast for the Chicago area Sunday night, according to the weather service.

There's a 50 percent chance of showers, mainly between 9 p.m. Sunday and 4 a.m. Monday. Wind gusts as high as 40 miles per hour are possible, according to the weather service.

WGN-TV meteorologist Tom Skilling said that temperatures were in the lower 80s in the Chicago area as of about 4:40 p.m.. South-southwest winds were gusting as high as 40 miles per hour.

The potential for severe thunderstorms with hail exists, Skilling said.
The Chicago Office of Emergency Management issued an advisory about the storms. Officials warned that the severe storms could bring hail in excess of 2 inches in diameter and even tornado activity.
City and weather forecasters also said the storms could bring flash flooding and city officials advised residents to clear sewer drains of any debris, report street and basement flooding to 3-1-1 and avoid walking or driving through floodwaters.
There's a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms early Monday, then a chance of showers after 7 a.m., the weather service said. A high temperature near 59 degrees is forecast.
Keep up with the latest radar, conditions and forecasts at the Chicago Weather Center.

chicagobreaking@tribune.com