Chicago is prepping for a breezy day with weather forecasts predicting northwest winds reaching up to 40 mph gusts. The National Weather Service's detailed forecast reports a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms this afternoon with partly sunny skies and a high near 60. Come nighttime, Chicagoans can expect clearer skies with breezy conditions persisting as the low drops to around 43.

As envisaged by the National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville IL, in an outlook posted early this morning, limited non-thunderstorm wind risk and a limited thunderstorm risk are on the radar for today. "Northwesterly winds will frequently gust up to 40 mph through mid-afternoon, with occasional gusts as high as 45 mph in the late morning and early afternoon," they warned. The outlook also highlighted potential minor river flooding in a few areas which is continues to be a concern.

The weekend is shaping up nicely with a sunny Saturday forecasted to hit a comfortable 68 degrees, as per NWS. Sunday will amp up the warmth with an expected high of 75 and sunshine to boot. But the peace doesn't last long – storm chances surge back into the picture come Monday night into Tuesday, with early signals indicating a possibility for severe weather and some flooding threats.

Boaters, meanwhile, should brace for rough conditions. The Hazardous Weather Outlook flags gale force winds and hazardous waves today for Illinois and Indiana nearshore waters of Lake Michigan. The workweek could kick off with similar conditions; "Gale force winds and or very hazardous waves are possible" come Tuesday, the Outlook articulates, which could make navigation treacherous.

A snippet from an NWS Chicago post reaffirms the immediate forecast, with windy conditions expected to roll through today from late morning to afternoon. The post also teases a mild to warm weekend but cautions that thunderstorm chances are on the return for early next week, potentially bringing severe weather on Tuesday.