Quiet, cooler weekend ahead of potential severe weather threat early next week

Recent warmth will give way to cooler temperatures this weekend, but there’s good news as well: the chances for rain aren’t high.

As the weekend begins, overnight temperatures are slated to dip into the mid-40s Friday into Saturday, with clouds decreasing from the west to the east. Skies will turn partly clear overnight as rain pushes east, bringing potentially severe thunderstorms to Ohio.

Overall, the weekend appears to be fairly quiet.

Attention will remain on local river levels, which have been elevated in recent weeks, especially the Fox River Basin. Levels are expected to drop late Saturday, NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Kevin Jeanes said, and it’s likely we’ll notice a difference by Sunday.

Temperature-wise, Saturday will begin in the mid-to-upper 40s, with highs later increasing to the low 60s under sunny skies. Expect cooler conditions along the lakefront, where temperatures could sit in the 50s – and potentially reach the low 50s – as inland areas warm into the low‑to‑mid 60s.

Rain chances remain low through the weekend, but early next week is a different story.

A severe threat covering most of Illinois is expected to develop Monday, likely in the late afternoon and evening, Jeanes said. All hazards will be possible, including damaging winds, hail and the possibility of tornadoes.

Much could change between now and then, so stay tuned to the NBC 5 Storm Team throughout the weekend as timing becomes clearer.

Once the storm system exits, cooler and drier conditions are expected the rest of the week.

Highs will near the 60s on Wednesday and Thursday – but dip into the 50s Friday and into next weekend.