The Chicago area will see near-record heat and oppressive humidity on Tuesday, but the threat of severe weather also exists, with gusty winds and heavy rain possible.
According to the Storm Prediction Center, the Chicago area is at a “slight” risk of severe weather Tuesday, with wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour and heavy rain possible.
The day will begin with potentially the warmest temperatures of the year, with highs rising into the upper 90s. These readings could threaten records in Chicago, but more importantly could cause heat indices of 110 to 115 degrees across the area.
As the sun sets, rain and thunderstorms could potentially ignite the area, with forecast models saying the entire region could see at least some precipitation.
Any storms that develop could be strong to severe, with damaging gusts and rain that could cause localized flooding.
The rain may cause local flooding according to forecast models.
The threat of rain will continue through Wednesday, with scattered showers and thunderstorms possible throughout the day. Highs will be slightly cooler, with readings in the upper 80s and heat indexes entering the 90s.
Temperatures will slowly begin to drop through the week, with readings back into the 80s by the weekend.
Stay tuned to the NBC Chicago app and the NBC 5 Storm Team for all the latest weather news and information.