Heat Sticks Around, Rain, Storm Chances Intensify: Illinois Weather

ILLINOIS — As the heat has picked up as the week has gone on, there has been plenty of sunshine to go around while the greater Chicago area has avoided the storms that often accompany the summer humidity.

That could change soon as the chances of storms throughout the next few days and throughout the weekend are about to pick up.

The National Weather Service predicts that storms could arrive as soon as Thursday evening as temperatures will reach or exceed 90 degrees between now and Saturday, forecasters predict.

The area will see a 40 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms mainly after 5 p.m. on Thursday before the precipitation moves out around 7 p.m. forecasters predict. Accuweather forecasters said that while the chance of rain is decent, the possibility that the precipitation develops into storms is only about 24 percent.

Temperatures will remain in the 90s on Friday when there is only a slight chance of rain and storms during the day, Accuweather forecasters predict. The storm chances will pop up Friday night and into the overnight hours. There is a 40 percent chance of rain and storms on Friday.

Forecasters predict that the strongest chance of possibly severe weather will take place Friday night and into Saturday.

The storm chances again pop up again on Saturday when there is a 20 percent chance of rain during the day when temperatures will again push 94 degrees. A higher chance of rain moves in for the overnight hours of Saturday, forecasters said, when there will be a 60 percent chance of showers and a possible thunderstorm.

Temperatures drop back into the mid-80s for Sunday, forecasters said, when there will be a 50 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms, which could possibly pop back up Sunday night.

Temperatures at night will remain in the low 70s, forecasters said, before cooler air moves into the area next week.