The Chicago area is set to experience some sour weather in the coming days, with thunderstorms and warm temperatures on Thursday and then a dramatic cool down in the coming days.
First to hit the area will be a taste of summer weather Thursday, with temperatures soaring into the upper 80s and humidity rising, with dew points topping 60 degrees across much of the area, according to forecast models.
A cold front will begin to push into the area Thursday night, but it will quickly turn rainy as showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop along the front.
While the Storm Prediction Center is calling for only thunderstorms, there is a possibility that strong to severe storms could develop in association with the system before it passes out of the area early Friday morning.
The expected cooling will begin as that front pushes through, with Friday’s high likely to occur just after midnight as temperatures drop, according to forecast models.
Daytime temperatures on Friday will likely settle into the 60s, with lows dropping into the 40s overnight and into Saturday.
Another thing to keep an eye on on Friday and into Saturday could be the development of lake effect showers. With extremely cold air aloft and warm lake water, rain may fall over parts of northwest Indiana or near the shores of Lake Michigan in Illinois, paving the way for isolated showers in those areas.
Those lake-effect showers could persist into Saturday, as could high waves on Lake Michigan whipped up by winds howling from the north, according to forecast models.
High temperatures on Saturday will feel almost fall-like, rising only into the mid-60s across the area.
As quickly as the cool temperatures arrived, things are expected to swing the other way starting Sunday, with readings climbing into the 70s and then back into the 80s for most of the work week.
Rain is not expected during the week, leading to a pleasant weather pattern expected to persist for several days.
Stay tuned to the NBC 5 Storm Team for all the latest weather news and information.