Tuesday morning, Chicago was around 71 degrees with a few clouds, and sunshine is forecast to push the city near 80 this afternoon. The warm stretch will not last: showers and thunderstorms are expected after dark, followed by a wet Thursday and a sharp, windy cooldown by Friday.
Showers and thunderstorms are expected Tuesday night.
Storms Arrive After Dark
Showers and thunderstorms are likely Tuesday night, with a low near 62 degrees. No severe weather is expected at this time.
Wednesday will remain mostly cloudy, with a chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 p.m. Highs should reach only about 63 degrees before slipping toward 60 in the afternoon as north-northeast winds increase to 5 to 15 mph.
Thursday Brings The Main Rainmaker
Thursday looks like the wettest day of the week, with rain likely before 1 p.m. and a chance of thunderstorms later in the day. The rain chance is 90%, skies will stay cloudy, and the high will struggle to reach 61 degrees.
Friday Brings A Fast Fall Reset
Friday turns mostly sunny but blustery, with a high near 55 and northwest winds running 20 to 25 mph. Gusts could reach the 30s, making it a poor day for unsecured patio decorations and a very good day to remember where the heavier jacket lives.
The National Weather Service Chicago outlook describes elevated frost and freeze risk for Friday night. The weekend then rebounds to around 57 Saturday, 63 Sunday and 66 Monday; boaters should also note that a Small Craft Advisory is posted for Illinois nearshore waters through 10 a.m. Tuesday.
