Shower and storm chances return to the Chicago area forecast starting Friday, the NBC 5 Storm Team said, and some could turn strong or severe.
“Long stretch of quiet weather will end today,” the National Weather Service said, of the forecast.
Showers began early Friday morning for some, with a line of storms containing lightning strikes and heavy rain near Ogle County and moving towards east towards DeKalb County.
According to NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Alicia Roman, scattered showers and storms were expected to develop across the Chicago area in the late morning Friday through mid-afternoon. Any storm that does form could contain damaging winds, heavy rain or even hail, Roman said.
The storm Prediction Center placed many of Chicago’s southwestern counties under a “slight” risk of severe weather, which ranks as level two of five. The rest of the Chicago area was under a “marginal” risk, which ranks as level one.
By Friday evening, storms will shift to the south, Roman said, though rain chances were expected to return Saturday morning.
“An active weather pattern overnight into Saturday morning,” Roman said, with rain and rumbles of thunder possible.
Saturday afternoon was expected to be dry, with a low-end chance of an isolated storm Sunday.
Temperatures remain in the 80s Friday and through the weekend, with a stretch of 90-degree days possible starting Wednesday.
