CHICAGO — The city’s unseasonably wet spring will continue on Monday, when multiple rounds of potentially dangerous storms are expected to hit Chicago.
A hazardous weather outlook has been issued for the Chicago area, which is likely to see thunderstorms Monday that could bring large hail, damaging winds and even more precipitation to the rain-soaked city, according to the National Weather Service.
Two rounds of storms of expected Monday: the first from roughly 8 a.m.-1 p.m. and the second from 4-10 p.m. The second round is expected to be more severe, but there is uncertainty on how far north those dangerous storms will extend, according to the weather service.
A warm front is expected to swoop into the area, intensifying the afternoon storms. But the warm front’s position will be impacted by the morning storms, and it’s possible the front will not extend north into Chicago, the weather service said in an alert to residents.
If the morning’s thunderstorms are “expansive,” the warm front may materialize south of Chicago, keeping the most dangerous storms out of the area.
Periods of storms expected Mon some of which will be severe. While the greatest severe threat is expected Mon PM, there continues to be uncertainty in exact timing and northward extent of the severe threat. Continue to stay updated on the latest forecast. #ILwx #INwx
🧵1/3 pic.twitter.com/Xck5OyhYkn
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) April 26, 2026
If the dangerous storms swoop into Chicago, they could be accompanied by half-inch size hail and winds as strong as 70 mph, the weather service’s forecast states. They would also bring plenty of precipitation to an already rain-soaked area.
Chicago has already seen 10 inches of rain through April 17, making it the wettest start to meteorological spring in the city’s history, WGN-TV meteorologist Bill Snyder told Block Club. The rainfall total through mid-April rivals what the city typically sees throughout the entire season. Meteorological spring runs March -May.
Rains earlier this month caused widespread basement flooding, particularly on the Northwest Side. Monday’s storms could trigger further flooding, and people living near rivers that are already at high levels should take caution.
Such rivers include the Rock, Fox and Des Plaines rivers, according to the weather service. The Chicago River was not included in rivers susceptible to flooding Monday.
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