Chicago thunderstorm – Chicago is sitting in unseasonably warm, muggy conditions, with thunderstorm chances increasing later this morning and continuing off and on through early tomorrow. Forecasters have expanded the risk level to a level two “slight” category, with the highest sev
Chicago is starting the day wrapped in unusually warm air, and residents can feel it even before the clouds fill in.
Overnight, temperatures across most of the viewing area have been in the low 70s. The warmth isn’t just a fluke—Chicago tied for the warmest temperature of the year yesterday when O’Hare reached 87°.
Today brings a change in texture, not just in thermometer numbers. Humidity moves in and, with it, a thunderstorm threat that begins later this morning. The risk of severe thunderstorms—especially late this afternoon and tonight—has increased. Storm Prediction Center forecasters have placed much of the viewing area in a level two “slight” risk. How intense those late-day storms become will depend, in part, on how much and how long morning thunderstorms last.
Tonight, showers and thunderstorms are likely, with some continuing through early tomorrow morning. Even with the looming storms, highs today may struggle to reach 80° because cloud cover and occasional rain are expected to cap temperatures.
Tomorrow, the day doesn’t look like a washout. While a shower can’t be ruled out, it appears much of the day will be rain-free, and any impact from rainfall should be brief. High temperatures tomorrow are expected to climb back into the mid 80s.
Sunday still leans mostly dry, though showers remain possible at times—especially in some of the southern and western counties. Highs on Sunday are forecast in the upper 70s.
The rain threat returns again toward the middle of next week. The area-wide risk of rainfall goes up Monday and Tuesday with scattered showers and thunderstorms. Highs should be around 80 on Monday, then well into the 80s Tuesday.
After that, the forecast trends toward drying out and turning hot. Toward the middle and end of next week, temperatures are expected to stay dry and rise, with the first 90s of the year possible as soon as Wednesday.
One expectation that didn’t pan out: the much-ballyhooed northern lights. The coronal mass ejection arrived weaker and later than expected—shortly after midnight our time—and it did not trigger a massive geomagnetic storm.
The forecast information came from FOX Chicago’s Mike Caplan.
Chicago weather thunderstorm risk severe thunderstorms humidity Storm Prediction Center slight risk level 2 O'Hare 87 degrees northern lights coronal mass ejection
So basically it’s gonna be muggy and stormy. Love that for us 🙄
They always say “slight risk” and then it’s like, surprise, tornado vibes. Why can’t they just say the truth lol. Also 87 at O’Hare is wild.
Wait the northern lights didn’t happen because the sun thing was weak? That’s what they’re saying? I thought it was like weather balloons or something messing with Chicago, not the actual solar flares.
Level two slight means it’ll still get bad somewhere. I don’t even care if it’s supposed to struggle to hit 80, it always feels hotter when it’s humid and the clouds just sit there. And they said morning storms could change everything, but the forecast never knows what my block is doing. Monday/Tuesday rain too? cool cool.