The Chicago area will see a warm and windy day Wednesday, but the forecast will take a sharp turn Thursday with a 30 degree temperature drop in a matter of hours and severe thunderstorms possible.
Wednesday’s high temperature, NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Alicia Roman said, will be 69 degrees, with some areas in the low 70s. Areas along the lake, where it is typically chillier, will be in the 60s too, Roman said.
In the afternoon, winds will pick up, gusting between 20 and 25 mph.
“A pretty nice day,” Roman said, though the mild conditions won’t last long.
Thursday starts out dry and warm, Roman said, with a high of 74 degrees. Temperatures will quickly fall and thunderstorms will “rapidly develop” by afternoon.
About 2 p.m., temperatures will still be in the 70s, Roman said, even close to 80 in Kankakee. By 5 p.m., a front passing through will push readings down to 40 degrees along the lakefront.
“A 25-30 degree temperature drop in as little as one or two hours,” Roman warned.
Rain and storms will move in after 1 p.m., Roman said. Later in the afternoon, between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m., some storms could be on the strong to severe side.
According to the Storm Prediction Center, Chicago and areas to the south and west will be under a “slight” risk of severe weather, which ranks as level two of five. In those parts, the greatest weather threats will be large, damaging hail and winds as high as 60 mph.
Counties to the north and west will be under a “marginal” risk of severe weather, which ranks as level one.
“The highest severe threat looks to be near/south of I-80,” the National Weather Service said, including in Will and Kankakee Counties in Illinois, and Newton and Jasper Counties in Indiana.
Temperatures will stay cold Friday, with a high of 40 degrees, Roman said, and 50s through the weekend.
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