Hazard Report Provided By forecast.weather.gov

INZ001-002-010-011-180915-
Lake IN-Porter-Newton-Jasper-
Including the cities of Gary, Hammond, Merrillville, Portage,
Valparaiso, Chesterton, Roselawn, Kentland, Morocco, Rensselaer,
and DeMotte
412 AM CDT Fri Jul 17 2026

...AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT TONIGHT...

The officials at the Indiana Department of Environmental Management
have declared an Air Quality Action Day, in effect until midnight
tonight.

An Air Quality Action Day for Wildfire Smoke and PM 2.5 has been
issued. Fine particulate levels are expected to be in the Unhealthy
(Red) range today. Active children and adults, and people with
respiratory disease, such as asthma should avoid prolonged outdoor
exposure.

Here are some recommended actions that the public can take:

 * Walk, bike, carpool or use public transportation.
 * Avoid using the drive-through and combine errands into one trip.
 * Avoid refueling your vehicle or using gasoline-powered lawn
   equipment until after 7pm.
 * Turn off your engine when idling for more than 30 seconds.
 * Conserve energy by turning off lights or setting the air
   conditioner to 75 degrees or above.

 For additional information, please visit the IDEM Smog page at:

 http://www.in.gov/idem/airmonitoring/smogwatch/

$$

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville IL
413 AM CDT Fri Jul 17 2026

ILZ003>006-008-010>013-019>021-023-032-033-039-103>108-INZ001-002-
010-011-019-180915-
Winnebago-Boone-McHenry-Lake IL-Ogle-Lee-De Kalb-Kane-DuPage-
La Salle-Kendall-Grundy-Kankakee-Livingston-Iroquois-Ford-
Northern Cook-Central Cook-Southern Cook-Northern Will-
Southern Will-Eastern Will-Lake IN-Porter-Newton-Jasper-Benton-
413 AM CDT Fri Jul 17 2026 /513 AM EDT Fri Jul 17 2026/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central
Illinois...northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight.

Weather hazards expected...

  Limited Thunderstorm Risk.
  Limited Flooding Risk.
  Limited Excessive Heat Risk.

DISCUSSION...

Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are expected this afternoon
and early evening. Some thunderstorms may produce heavy rainfall
and localized flooding.

Additionally, the heat index will peak between 95 and 100 degrees
this afternoon.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

Saturday...
  Limited Thunderstorm Risk...with an associated:
     Level 2 of 5 Severe Thunderstorm Risk.
  Elevated Excessive Heat Risk.
Saturday Night into Sunday...
  High Swim Risk Lake Michigan Beaches.
Monday...
  Limited Thunderstorm Risk...with an associated:
     Level 2 of 5 Severe Thunderstorm Risk.

DISCUSSION...

Additional thunderstorms are possible on Saturday and Monday,
some of which could be strong to severe.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

  Spotter activation will not be necessary through tonight.

GENERAL STORM MOTION OF THE DAY:

  Moving toward the east at 15 to 20 mph.

$$

Hazard Report Provided By forecast.weather.gov