Chicago residents are bracing for a wet and stormy start to the week, as the National Weather Service (NWS) forewarns of potential thunderstorms and flooding in the city and its surrounding areas. Today's forecast predicts a 70% chance of rain with the likelihood of showers and thunderstorms increasing in the afternoon. Temperatures are expected to peak at a high near 78 degrees, accompanied by a southwest wind around 10 mph, possibly gusting up to 15 mph.
As the evening approaches, the chances of showers and possible thunderstorms rise to 90%, with the temperature dropping to a low of around 51 degrees, transitioning winds from southeast to north post-midnight create varying conditions leading to potential hazards with limited thunderstorm risk and elevated flooding risk due to downpours, these conditions will likely persist into early hours. According to the Hazardous Weather Outlook, storms may produce gusty winds and "torrential downpours" capable of triggering "localized flooding of low lying areas."
Looking towards the middle of the week, Tuesday’s climate will see a 40 percent chance of rain, with a cooler high near 54 amidst breezy conditions, the NWS details a north wind traveling 15 to 20 mph that could reach gusts as high as 25 mph. The outlook brightens by Wednesday with sunny skies forecasted and a high near 60 degrees. Meanwhile, boaters are advised to exercise caution as "hazardous conditions for small craft" are predicted for both the Illinois and Indiana nearshore waters of Lake Michigan.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop this afternoon. A few may produce torrential downpours leading to localized flooding of low-lying areas. When thunder roars, go indoors! #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/ph2utwntEz
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) May 13, 2024
Into the latter part of the week, the weather pattern remains unstable, the NWS reports a 40 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms from Thursday through Sunday, and Daily fluctuations in temperature with highs ranging from 60 to a more amiable 78 degrees, evenings are equally unpredictable featuring a mix of cloudy and partly cloudy skies leading up to potentially rainy weekends. For real-time updates and more specific details, the public can follow NWS Chicago's X account, which advises residents to stay alert to weather changes, noting that when "thunder roars, go indoors!"
