ComEd reported more than 7,000 customers in DuPage County were without power as of around 4 p.m. Around 1,000 more were impacted across Chicago.

The possible hazards include damaging winds, large hail, an isolated tornado, and torrential downpours. Dew points and moisture levels are high, meaning storms could quickly drop 1–2 inches of rain, leading to a flash flooding threat in some areas.

The Chicago area could see strong-to-severe thunderstorms Wednesday, with watches and warnings already active.

A clash of air masses on Wednesday will result in the threat of severe storms from Milwaukee and Chicago westward to Denver and the eastern Rockies.

A tornado watch was still in effect until 11 p.m. Friday for Cook County and northern Illinois, but the severe weather mainly stayed northwest of the Chicago area thanks to a line of cool, dense air that broke the storms up.

The Chicago area has felt less of an impact from the Trump administration’s National Weather Service cuts than offices in the Quad Cities and downstate Lincoln.

Heavy rain is in the forecast for Chicago on Friday night, but an earlier threat of severe weather has significantly diminished. A tornado watch had been in effect for most of the Chicago area until 11 p.m., but it was canceled around 9:30 p.m.

Chicago faces its 18th day over 90°, with potential severe storms and high ozone levels; cooler weather is expected later in the week.

Wednesday will be another hot and humid day with highs in the lower 90s. Showers and storms are expected to move in during the afternoon and evening, some of which may become severe. The greatest risk with any strong to severe storms on Wednesday will be damaging wind gusts and heavy rain.