Kankakee County Sheriff Mike Downey said no injuries or deaths had been reported yet, though first responders were still checking for victims and assessing damage.

Expert researchers and scientists are now working directly with local Chicago-area communities to address extreme weather and mitigate the damage it can cause.

Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected to develop across the Chicago area Tuesday, the NBC 5 Storm Team said, with some areas under threats of heavy rain, winds up to 70 miles per hour, golf ball-sized hail and even the possibility of tornadoes.