Chicago woke up to a chilly, partly cloudy Tuesday with temperatures hovering near 30°F at Midway and a light south wind already working on a quick warmup. The cold start will be brief, with highs expected to hit the upper 40s today before an even bigger surge into the 60s and 70s midweek. Anyone with schedule-sensitive plans will want to keep an eye on late week, when a pattern shift could bring strong storms on Thursday.
Today will stay partly sunny with a high near 49°F, though temperatures may slip a few degrees in the late afternoon as clouds thicken. South winds of 5 to 10 mph, with gusts up to 20 mph, will add a little extra bite to the breeze. For official details and the latest updates, check the National Weather Service at NWS Chicago.
Late-Week Storm Threat
Warming ramps up on Wednesday and Thursday, with highs near 68°F on Wednesday and into the low 70s on Thursday before a stout cold front barrels through. Thunderstorms are likely to develop near and just behind the front from Thursday afternoon into the evening, and some storms could produce large hail and damaging winds, with the highest chances south of I-80. Local outlets have been tracking the evolving setup, so it is smart to follow forecasts through the week and be ready to move indoors if storms approach. For local reporting, see NBC Chicago.
What To Expect
Showers and a chance of thunderstorms are most likely Thursday afternoon and evening, with the potential for brief heavy downpours and hail where storms fire up. The cold front will be a sharp one, with lows dropping into the low 30s Thursday night and Friday’s high likely only reaching the upper 30s, a roughly 40°F swing in about 24 hours. Officials will issue watches or warnings if confidence in stronger storms increases, so keep an eye on updates from the National Weather Service at NWS Chicago.
Plan for the Thursday evening commute: secure loose outdoor items, have a thunderstorm plan in mind, and allow extra travel time if you are out during the evening rush. The weekend looks drier and more moderate, so outdoor plans should be able to bounce back. This space will be updated if any watches or warnings are posted.
