Chicago prepares for a week of varied weather, as the forecast indicates a mostly sunny start followed by potential near-record warmth and chances of rain later in the week. According to the National Weather Service, residents can expect conditions to remain mostly sunny today with a high near 39 degrees and north-northeast winds at 5 to 10 mph, gusting as high as 15 mph.
While tonight looks mostly cloudy with a low of around 33 degrees, the week kicks off with more sun and a high of 38 on Monday. However, the National Weather Service has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook, warning of a "Limited Fog Risk" today and tonight, particularly in northwestern Indiana and interior northern Illinois, with another fog possible into Monday morning. Localized river flooding is also a concern on parts of the Illinois River, adding a potentially messy wrinkle to the start of the week.
The weather ups the ante on Thursday with predictions of a chance of showers after noon and a high near 53 degrees, making it a breezy affair. "Expect a dry and mild start to the week with increasing rain chances and near-record warmth on Thursday," reported NWS Chicago on X. This shift marks a stark contrast to the tranquil start of the week, with Thursday night likely seeing showers primarily before midnight, and a breezy continuation with lows around 48 degrees.
Here is a look at the forecast across the area for the next five days. Expect a dry and mild start to the week with increasing rain chances and near record warmth on Thursday! #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/0oJKGbubPK
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) February 4, 2024
Heading towards the weekend, the Chicago area will see a chance of showers again on Friday, but the skies should clear up by nightfall, with partly cloudy conditions and a low of around 39 degrees. The week ends with a mostly sunny Saturday, posting a high near 46 degrees. For water-bound residents and boaters, "Hazardous conditions for small craft are likely" from Wednesday through Friday, as stated by the National Weather Service, intensifying the caution for those navigating the choppy waters of Lake Michigan during this time.
