The streets of Chicago are set to be pummeled once again by relentless rain and thunderstorms, the National Weather Service warns. In an advisory issued early this morning, pockets of the Windy City and its surrounding areas are expected to experience "Elevated Thunderstorm Risk," with some southern areas potentially seeing hail "up to 1 inch in diameter." The forecast on the National Weather Service website suggests that the showers will likely commence after 5 PM today, enveloping the city in a downpour for most of this week, with today's temperatures hanging just below the mid-40s.

The commotion doesn't stop at lightning and hail; there's a "90% chance of precipitation tonight" and, correspondingly, local weather experts warn that hazardous conditions for small craft on Lake Michigan are to be expected from Monday through Thursday. The National Weather Service Chicago's hazardous weather outlook further indicates that Monday could bring along not just tempests but also "Limited Flooding Risk." As showers are forecasted to kick in mainly after 1 PM, this will mark the beginning of a week where Chicagoans will scarcely see the sun pierce through the overcast skies. High temperatures will struggle to comfortably break into the 40s until Saturday.

A grave reminder of the city's susceptibility to severe weather comes from a tweet posted by NWS Chicago, recalling the "third largest tornado outbreak in U.S. history" which happened just one year ago today, impacting 23 counties in northern Illinois and northwest Indiana. On that fateful day, a record 22 tornadoes left a trail of destruction in their wake, underlying the unpredictable power of nature's fury.

The week's outlook paints a picture of tumult – the kind that urges residents to remember the power of preparedness. Keeping an eye on the sky and another on the streets may just be the Chicagoan way for the coming days. Make sure to prepare for "hazardous conditions for small craft,", especially on Wednesday and Thursday, when the waters of Lake Michigan are forecasted to be particularly treacherous with "Gale force winds and or very hazardous waves," according to the hazardous weather outlook from the National Weather Service. As the city braces itself, residents must once again find their strength in resilience, ensuring to properly gear up against the pending storm. And so, with bated breath, Chicago awaits to weather the storm's blow, hoping to swiftly navigate a week waterlogged by nature's caprices.