Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued Until 10 PM ET

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is now in effect for much of northern Indiana, southwest Lower Michigan, northeast Illinois, and portions of Lake Michigan until 10:00 PM Eastern Time Monday.

According to the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center, storms moving east out of northeast Illinois this afternoon could bring scattered large hail, including isolated hail up to 2 inches in diameter, along with damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph. Forecasters say the strongest thunderstorms may quickly become severe as they track across the region through the afternoon and evening.

The watch began at 3:10 PM Eastern Time and includes the following northern Indiana counties: Benton, DeKalb, Elkhart, Fulton, Jasper, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Lake, La Porte, Marshall, Newton, Noble, Porter, Pulaski, St. Joseph, Starke, Steuben, White, and Whitley.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are favorable for severe storms to develop in and near the watch area. Residents are encouraged to stay alert for changing weather conditions and be prepared for possible warnings later today. While this watch is primarily focused on hail and damaging winds, severe thunderstorms can occasionally produce tornadoes.

Anyone in the watch area should have multiple ways to receive warnings and be ready to move indoors quickly if storms approach.