An extremely dry stretch of weather in the Chicago area is about to come to an end, with rain and a threat of severe weather looming in the forecast.
The change in the forecast is expected to arrive Friday morning, as scattered showers are expected to develop just in time for daybreak, according to the NBC 5 Storm Team.
As the morning moves along there could also be some development of thunderstorms, and a handful of those could approach severe limits. The Storm Prediction Center has the entire Chicago area at a “marginal” risk of severe storms Friday morning and into the early afternoon, the first of five levels of severe risk the SPC uses.
The main threats of any storms that develop would be gusty winds, though hail can’t be ruled out according to forecast models.
Eventually that rain is expected to come to an end, but it isn’t the last time in coming days that the area could be facing the prospect of showers and thunderstorms.
In fact, Saturday could bring another round of rain to the area in the morning, though the main threat of strong-to-severe thunderstorms will be focused on northern Indiana, with nearly the entire state at a “marginal” risk of severe storms.
As that chance of storms comes to an end, another trend is expected to emerge in the forecast, with warmer temperatures slowly building into next week, according to extended forecast models.
Showers and storms could also occur on Monday and Tuesday, but then the biggest change will arrive, as another blocking pattern is expected to emerge, funneling storm systems around the Chicago area and providing a lengthy stretch of dry weather in the forecast.
In addition, temperatures are expected to climb again, rising into the 90s on Wednesday as Chicago sees its warmest temperatures of the year so far. In fact, that stretch of 90-degree weather could last for several days, with scant rain in the forecast to provide any relief.
Stay tuned to the NBC 5 Storm Team for all the latest updates, and be sure to download the NBC Chicago app for real-time weather alerts sent directly to your phone.
