Chicago is bracing for a mixed bag of weather conditions in the coming days, with forecasts predicting a sunny spell followed by a spate of potentially severe weather. According to the National Weather Service, today's weather in the Windy City will be sunny with a comfortable high near 54 degrees, though it may get breezy with east-southeast wind gusts as high as 18 mph.
Tonight, the clear skies are set to continue, dipping to a low of around 42 degrees. But the respite from severe weather will be short-lived, with the National Weather Service issuing an outlook for limited severe thunderstorm risk for Friday and Saturday, and again on Sunday. Chicagoans should prepare for showers after 1 pm Friday, with an 80% chance of precipitation, and a thunderstorm is also possible during the evening, anticipating a low of around 56 degrees.
The weekend will kick off with a 40% chance of afternoon thunderstorms on Saturday and a high near 80 degrees, which increases to a 60% likelihood of showers and thunderstorms by night. In a statement obtained by the National Weather Service Chicago, "Limited flooding risk" is also on the weather menu, indicating that along with the thunderstorms, Chicago may face flooding challenges this weekend.
Continuing the trend, Sunday's forecast suggests showers are likely, with mostly cloudy skies and highs reaching near 78. Chicago residents may want to keep their umbrellas at hand through Monday, witnessing showers casting a cloudy veil with a high near 73. Calmer weather appears to be on the horizon from Tuesday, with mostly sunny skies and temperatures expected to linger around the 70s, shared by the NWS Chicago feed.
An active pattern is expected Friday through Monday with periods of showers and thunderstorms. Locally heavy rain will be possible along with the potential for strong to severe thunderstorms. High temps are expected to reach the mid 70s to near 80 Saturday and Sunday. #ILWX #INWX pic.twitter.com/P4NlQryHvj
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) April 25, 2024
Safeguarding watercraft and boating activities, Friday through Wednesday also sees warnings of hazardous conditions for small craft on Lake Michigan -- a challenge to be reckoned with for seafarers as per the latest hazardous weather outlook. Be prepared to stabilize the sails as both the Illinois and Indiana nearshore waters of Lake Michigan are anticipated to experience these conditions, culminating in a perilous concoction of high winds and rolling storms.
