Severe weather rocks Chicago area, leaving trail of destruction

CHICAGO - Severe weather, including reported tornadoes, barreled through Chicagoland on Tuesday, wreaking havoc in some areas.

The powerful storms came after unseasonable warmth, with today's temperatures reaching the low to mid-70s, peaking at 74 degrees at O'Hare Airport. However, despite the balmy conditions, the record high of 75 degrees remained intact.

Following the severe weather, a strong cold front will make its way through the area, bringing about a dramatic temperature drop. From today's unseasonable warmth, temperatures are expected to plummet overnight, with wind chills dipping into the single digits by Wednesday morning. There's even a chance of a dusting of snow before skies clear throughout Wednesday. Afternoon temperatures on Wednesday will struggle to reach the upper 20s to near 30 degrees.

However, this cold snap will be short-lived. By Thursday, temperatures are forecast to rebound into the 40s, followed by near 50-degree temperatures on Friday. As we head into the weekend, the mercury is expected to climb back into the 60s and possibly even reach the 70s, offering a return to more seasonable conditions.

Below is a recap of our LIVE WEATHER BLOG. Mobile users click HERE.