While some rainfall has already reached the area Thursday morning, the best chance for severe weather will be from about 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

Officials say several tornadoes have torn through parts of Illinois and Indiana, downing trees and power lines in an area south of Chicago and overwhelming the 911 center with emergency calls.

A cold front is charging through Chicagoland this afternoon, quickly dropping temperatures from the 60s into the 30s.

The storms also create a slight chance for flooding and could produce damaging winds of up to 60 mph in the southwest suburbs, according to the National Weather Service.