Chicagoans should brace themselves for a bout of turbulent weather today, as the city gears up for scattered showers, thunderstorms, and a mash-up of hail and gusty winds. According to the National Weather Service, storms are anticipated to roll through the area this afternoon and may soldier on until the early evening. There's a reported "limited risk" for thunderstorms today, which could see hail up to the size of a penny and winds reaching speeds upward of 50 mph. Thunderstorm activity is expected to wane before 11 p.m., giving way to a slight chance of showers leading into a calmer Wednesday. the forecast suggests.
The city's lakefront won't be spared, as a "High Swim Risk" chimes in on Lake Michigan's beaches on Wednesday – a warning for those dreaming of early summer dips. The latter part of the week, however, teases a reprieve with sunny skies and gentle winds, before storm chances creep back in on Friday night, looming over the weekend and stretching into Monday. The National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville Office puts a cap on the good weather with a limited thunderstorm risk from Friday night through Monday.
Amid today's volatile weather, the usual charms of the Windy City might need to take a backseat to safety precautions. "As always, be sure to head indoors if you hear thunder," warns a post from the NWS Chicago. But for those with an eye toward the weekend, it's not all gray skies: temperatures are forecasted to warm, with thermometers possibly hitting a cozy high near 82 degrees by Monday.
For boaters and sailors, Lake Michigan is also expected to churn with some turbulence. The hazardous weather outlook extends to Illinois and Indiana's nearshore waters, where there's a limited risk for thunderstorms with potential wind gusts reaching 40 knots. Despite today's tumult, the wind is set to ease into the weekend. However, the lake's waters are still anticipated to be treacherous with a high swim risk, and hazardous conditions for small craft on Wednesday. Forecasts urge the lake-goers to be vigilant and keep an ear to the ground - or rather, ear to the sky - for signs of approaching storms or gusty winds.
