Severe storms are racing into the Chicago area, prompting a tornado watch and the possibility of a messy, hazardous commute home from work. The Tornado Watch is in effect for Ford, Grundy, Kankakee, Livingston and Will counties in Illinois and Jasper,

There is a tornado watch in place for the afternoon and evening in Chicago's south suburbs and Northwest Indiana.

In and around Jacksonville, the threat of severe weather is somewhat lighter. There is no tornado watch at the moment, but a wind advisory is in play for this evening and overnight into Thursday. The chance of severe weather in the area is also at 80%, but it will fall to 30% Wendesday evening, according to the National Weather Service.

The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Watch for Lauderdale and Colbert Counties until 6 a.m. Any storm that can move into northwest Alabama overnight will be in a favorable environment for damaging winds,

National Weather Service officials are expecting Wednesday waves of showers and thunderstorms to hit the Chicago area capable of producing damaging winds and large hail and possibly tornadoes.

Local and state authorities as well as Duke Energy are warning Hoosiers of severe weather threats and possible power outages that may occur in Indiana starting Wednesday evening. While Wednesday may bring heavy rain and possible destructive hail and tornadoes,