The threat of strong to severe storms returns to the Chicago area Tuesday, the NBC 5 Storm Team said, with the chance for winds gusting as high as 60 mph at times and heavy downpours as summer-like temperatures return to the forecast.
“Get ready for some rain,” NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Pete Sack said Tuesday morning.
Early Tuesday morning, the storm system was still hovering over the north and west, NBC 5 Live Doppler Radar showed. By about 12 p.m., some rain may develop off to the north, Sack said, though storms weren’t expected to move in until about 3 p.m. and last through the afternoon and evening commutes.
Some of those storms could contain large hail, damaging winds and heavy downpours, Sack said, with ponding on roads possible.
“Expect plenty of wind over the next 24 hours,” the National Weather Service said in a post on X early Tuesday, “with the strongest winds up to 40 mph this afternoon.”
The strongest winds could end up kicking up dust in open and rural areas, the NWS warned.
According to the National Weather Service, the greatest likelihood of strong to severe storms comes between 6 and 9 p.m. In that window, the entire Chicago area will be at a “marginal” risk of severe weather, which ranks as level one of five.
Temperatures Tuesday would be warmer, Sack said, with a high of 75 degrees as storms move in ahead of a cold front. By Wednesday, temperatures will drop to the low 60s.
Temperatures in the 70s return by the end of the week, with 80s into the weekend, along with off-and-on storm chances.
