Severe Storms Could Bring Damaging Wind, Hail To Chicago Area

ILLINOIS — After Illinois residents got a brief respite from the summer humidity and muggy conditions that kept the possibility of severe storms and tornados in play, temperatures again jumped Thursday morning as Mother Nature cranked up the heat.

The latest severe weather threat comes after 13 tornadoes touched down in the Chicago area last Wednesday, and another one on Friday.

The National Weather Service on Thursday said that “hit or miss showers and thunderstorms” are possible throughout the weekend as weather conditions begin to change. Chicago-area residents woke up to humid conditions on Thursday and temperatures and muggy conditions are expected to continue throughout the day with highs expected to reach 88 degrees, forecasters said.

The National Weather Service is calling for temperatures to remain in the mid-to-upper 80s on Thursday, and scattered severe thunderstorms could be possible south of Interstate 55 as a cold front moves through the area. Those storms could produce damaging wind and possible hail, forecasters said, which means that residents in the affected areas should be prepared.

Temperatures will be more pleasant on Friday when conditions are expected to remain sunny and calm for the most part, although dangerous swimming conditions may exist for Lake Michigan beaches in Indiana, the weather service said.

The chance of scattered storms returns for the weekend starting on Saturday when temperatures are expected to move toward the mid-to-upper 80s again with a 20-30 percent chance of mid-to-late afternoon storms and thunderstorms. The storm chances continue into Sunday when skies will be mostly sunny with temperatures in the mid-80s with a 30 percent chance of rain and storms possible.

Temperatures away from the lake will remain seasonably warm, and humidity will again begin to creep up on Sunday. There will be a 20 percent chance of rain in the overnight hours on both Saturday and Sunday, forecasters predict.