CHICAGO - 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. The Storm Prediction Center has placed large parts of Illinois, Wisconsin, and Colorado under a "slight" risk of severe storms - a Level 2 out of 5 on its severe storm scale.

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.

A Chicago flash flood warning went out Tuesday night as the city experienced some of its heaviest rain since 2023. More than 4 inches fell in less than 90 minutes on the West Side.

Chicago’s heat streak continues with a possible round of late-day storms today, before a brief cooldown and then another warm-up next week.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- There is a chance of severe weather Wednesday afternoon. Wednesday will be very hot and humid, with highs in the low 90s. Between about 3 and 8 p.m., strong to severe storms are possible, ABC7 Chicago meteorologist Larry Mowry said.

Chicagoland is gearing up for a round of potentially severe weather on Wednesday night. Tuesday’s hot and humid weather will stick around throughout the day on Wednesday, but

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.

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.

Early Friday morning, torrential rain fell across Cook County. Multiple crashes were reported on Chicago roads and highways and thousands were left without power across the Chicago area.

FOX 32's Mike Caplan breaks down today's weather outlook.

ABC7 took a closer look at how the tragedy led to the development of the city's Office of Emergency Management and Communications, and why it remains critical today.