Forecast: Mainly clear, temps above normal; storm approaching for Friday

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Mainly clear, a bit chilly, but readings above normal for early March. Low to mid-30s, normally cooler at inland locations. Low: 36.

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A 4^th straight day of plentiful sunshine and quiet conditions on tap Thursday, but a vigorous storm system will impact the region beginning Friday afternoon through Saturday afternoon.

Current conditions

Looking ahead

Wednesday afternoon GOES WEST weather satellite image of the powerful Pacific storm expected to become the Midwest “weather maker” and potential severe weather producer later this week. The image is courtesy of CIRA/RAMBB. 

A line of severe thunderstorms is expected to develop late Friday afternoon over Missouri/Iowa and move east/northeast impacting the immediate Chicago area between roughly 9pm and 2 a.m. The area is currently in a level 2 of 5 on the severe weather scale, but the far southernmost counties are in an even higher level 3 risk. 

The Chicago area is likely to sit beneath a pocket of very strong jet stream winds aloft which the storms are able to tap into some of that energy and bring some of that wind energy down to the surface in the form of damaging gusts.  

Regardless of severe weather production, the timeframe from Friday afternoon through Saturday afternoon is a period in which strong non-thunderstorm winds which could gust past 50+ mph at times.

We will continue to monitor the threat for severe thunderstorms Friday and update the situation as more data becomes available.