6 P.M. UPDATE: Flash Flood Watch and Hazardous Weather Outlook in Effect

I don't want to get in the habit of reporting the weather every few hours (Look, it's raining!), but I do want to let readers/viewers/UVs (you) know when there's something potentially dangerous coming up.

And so it is with that sentiment that we bring you Patch's third weather update of Wednesday, May 25, courtesy of the outstanding National Weather Service, whose writers I sometimes think learned meteorology at the DAVE BARRY SCHOOL OF ALL-CAPS.

But I digress.

What we are looking at as of 6 p.m. is a Flash Flood Warning and a Hazardous Weather Outlook. Which basically means that (This just in.) it's pretty nice out there as I look out the window of the palatial Nagel Mansion.

But, it's going to get worse, most likely. And because it rained so dang much this morning, there's some potential for roads to flood if we get another downpour.

Weather hazards expected:

"THUNDERSTORMS ... THE STRONGEST MAY PRODUCE: DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 70 MPH. HAIL TO THE SIZE OF GOLF BALLS. TORNADOES. AND HEAVY RAINFALL WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING."

The timing is "this evening and potentially continuing into the overnight hours."

The chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half an inch are possible. Don't chuckle too much at the Flash Flood Warning.

"MUCH OF THE AREA HAD UPWARDS OF AN INCH OF RAIN ON WEDNESDAY MORNING. BECAUSE OF THIS ... THE POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY RAINFALL IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME WILL LIKELY RESULT IN INCREASED RUNOFF ... WHICH COULD LEAD TO RAPID RISES ON SMALL STREAMS AND DRAINAGE DITCHES."

Here are the reports from earlier today, just in case you missed them.

The National Weather Service for our neck of the woods has removed the "Special Weather Statement" issued at 7:49 a.m. Wednesday.

A "Hazardous Weather Outlook" is still in place.

The scanner reported at 9 a.m. that there is flooding on Fabyan Parkway between Hughes and Main.

"A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIFT NORTH ACROSS THE OUTLOOK AREA THIS MORNING. THUNDERSTORMS WILL REDEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT FROM SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST ... MAINLY SOUTH OF THE WISCONSIN STATE LINE.

"THE MAIN THREATS ARE EXPECTED TO BE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. ADDITIONALLY A NEARLY STATIONARY FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL DRIFT NORTH ACROSS THE OUTLOOK AREA TODAY. THE ENVIRONMENT IN AND AROUND FRONTAL BOUNDARIES HAVE A TENDENCY TO ENHANCE LOW LEVEL CIRCULATIONS. THUS IT IS POSSIBLE FOR AN ISOLATED TORNADO TODAY ACROSS THE OUTLOOK AREA ... MAINLY SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 80."

At 7:49 Wednesday morning, the NWS issued the "Special Weather Statement," which included the following.

"DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM LAKE SUMMERSET TO 36 MILES EAST OF HANGING GROVE ... MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH. ONE HALF INCH DIAMETER HAIL ... WINDS GREATER THAN 40 MPH ... FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ... BRIEF MODERATE DOWNPOURS ... ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS."

If you're traveling, locations of noted impact included Machesney Park, York Center, Carol Stream, Burbank, Western Springs, Oak Brook, Loves Park, Hodgkins, Hampshire, Belvidere, Oak Lawn and Countryside.

"GUSTY WINDS MAY CAUSE SMALL OBJECTS SUCH AS TRASH BINS TO BLOW AROUND. STAY AWAY FROM HIGH OBJECTS OUTDOORS SUCH AS TREES. HEAVY RAINFALL CAN LEAD TO FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES ... VIADUCTS ... UNDERPASSES ... CREEKS AND DRAINAGE AREAS. SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THESE STORMS HAVE PASSED."

Stay tuned to Patch for updates.