Widespread flooding 'likely' in Chicago area as threat of severe storms brings potential hail and tornadoes

Widespread flooding throughout the Chicago area was "likely" Tuesday as a severe storm system potentially bringing tornadoes and hail looms.

A combination of cooling temperatures in the 40s throughout the metro area paired with warming temperatures reaching close to 80 degrees south of Interstate 80 is expected to create clashing air masses that will bring the worst of the storm south of the interstate, including the threat of tornadoes, according to the National Weather Service.

"It's probably going to wiggle and wobble and ebb and flow a little bit here through the afternoon and evening, but primarily that's sort of the corridor that we're eyeing for this front to set up," Kevin Doom, a meteorologist with the weather service, said.

Threats of a tornado are "significantly lesser" in the metro area, but a "decent amount" of rainfall and some hail was likely in parts of the city, according to the weather service.

"Whether that amounts to flooding is a little uncertain," Doom said.

After Monday's record-setting warm temperatures, Tuesday's storms are expected to begin sometime between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. and linger into early Wednesday, the weather service said.

"We could still see some relatively stronger, probably more scattered, thunderstorm coverage through the overnight, but it looks like the primary severe threat into the city is probably going to wrap up around midnight or shortly thereafter," Doom said.

Doom urged commuters to check the forecast and pull off the roads if conditions get too severe.

"If you encounter any sort of flood waters, never drive through," Doom said. "Always, always turn around."