Most severe weather set to miss Chicago, I-80 corridor still at risk

Severe weather will largely miss the city, running along and south of I-80 for the second time this month, according to the National Weather Service.

"Lightning, small hail and winds still pose risks to the northern areas, though they were a much lower risk at this point,” according to Lee Carlaw, a meteorologist with the weather service.

A severe thunderstorm watch was enacted until 11 p.m. between Quincy in the West, Springfield to the South, Kankakee to the North and stretching east to to one of Indiana’s easternmost cities, Fort Wayne.

“The main threat is along and south of I-80,” Carlaw said.

It included areas which just two weeks ago saw a total of 10 tornadoes, including an EF-3 that killed at least three people outside Kankakee and produced record-breaking hail.

A drizzle rolled into the area further dampened the spirits of disappointed Cubs fans leaving their team's season-opening loss at Wrigley Field on Thursday. Those fans also found themselves wearing more layers than when they'd got into the stadium; with temperatures dropping, and the wind chill, the temperatures in Wrigleyville dropped about 15 degrees between the first and last pitches.

Jimena Ramirez, a Cubs fan of the last two years, wasn’t bothered by the cold or rain at her first Opening Day. And as a lifelong Chicago White Sox fan, watching the Cubs get routed wasn't really that worrying.

“[The cold] was expected,” Ramirez said. “But it’s still a great time.”

By the end of the game, she had was wearing the sweatpants she'd brought along over the shorts she showed up in. With Chicago weather, after all, “you have to be prepared.”

She said a poncho and sweatshirt were enough to stick out the game, but also noted a hat was key to enduring the sun when it was shining.

“Just don’t think about the weather,” she said, laughing. “You’ll survive.”