- Thunderstorms, heavy winds, hail and tornadoes are forecast
- Parts of Iowa, Indiana, Illinois and Ohio are at risk
- NOAA urges people in affected zones to listen to forecasts
(CNN) -- Severe thunderstorms, widespread damaging winds, hail and tornadoes are forecast over parts of the Upper Midwest into the Ohio Valley, the National Weather Service said.
The risk of severe thunderstorms was moderate for Wednesday afternoon and into the night for eastern Iowa, northern and central Illinois, much of Indiana and western Ohio, it said.
The service's Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, said its 1:30 p.m. outlook would be upgraded to high risk for severe weather in northern Indiana and northern Illinois, possibly including the Chicago metropolitan area.
In a statement, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said: "Those in the threatened area are urged to review severe weather safety rules and to listen to radio, television and NOAA weather radio for possible watches, warnings and statements later today."
There was a slight risk of severe thunderstorms from central Iowa to the Atlantic coast and for much of Montana and parts of northern Wyoming, it said.
