Warmer temperatures are on the horizon for the Chicago area, accompanied by several rounds of showers and thunderstorms in the coming days, raising concerns about potential severe weather, particularly on Friday night, as indicated by the Storm Prediction Center.
Thursday is expected to be predominantly dry, with high temperatures reaching the 80s and partly to mostly sunny skies. However, residents should be cautious as hazardous beach conditions may arise due to strong winds over Lake Michigan, which could generate large waves and dangerous rip currents for swimmers.
As the evening progresses into Friday, a series of showers and thunderstorms may sweep through the region. While early forecasts suggest these storms may not reach severe levels, the risk remains present. Temperatures could flirt with the low-90s on Friday before a cooling trend is anticipated as the weekend approaches, settling back into the mid-80s.
Forecasters are keeping an eye on another storm system arriving Friday evening into Saturday morning, which again presents a “marginal” risk of severe storms for parts of the Chicago area. The primary hazards from any developing storms are expected to be gusty winds and heavy rain.
Once these systems clear, the latter part of the weekend may bring drier conditions, although there’s still a chance for more rain on Sunday, with predictions indicating these storms could mainly affect areas south of the NBC 5 viewing region.
Looking ahead, another round of rain could be on the way by Tuesday, with temperatures once again rising into the low 90s. Residents are encouraged to stay updated with the NBC 5 Storm team for the latest forecasts and weather alerts, including downloading the NBC Chicago app for real-time notifications directly to their devices.
This forecast serves as a reminder to the community about the ever-changing nature of weather patterns and the importance of being informed and prepared, especially in light of potential severe weather.