Forecast: Partly cloudy, breezy but seasonal; scattered showers possible Thursday

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Becoming partly cloudy late. Not quite as cold. Lows range from the middle 30s coolest inland to the lower 40s near Lake Michigan.  Low: 40. 

An unsettled weather pattern ahead with the potential for severe thunderstorms along the warm front in areas south and west of Chicago. Some of these storms could arrive into parts of the Chicago area toward Thursday evening, and continue in scattered fashion as we move into Friday. 

Thursday highs warm into the 60s for much of the Chicago area, except immediate shoreline locations. 

A notable warming trend across the U.S. Thursday with 144 million residents at or above 70-degrees is forecasted.

THURSDAY NIGHT: Cloudy periods, windy and significantly milder. A shower or thunderstorm possible early. Southerly winds 15-30 mph and gusty. Low: 56. 

Temperatures to soar near 80 degrees Friday afternoon, among the warmest temperatures so far this year.

The incoming warmth could provide added instability to produce strong or severe thunderstorms for parts of the area later Friday into Friday night.

The axis of heaviest rainfall is forecast to fall well south of Chicago.

The typical Spring “roller coaster” is forecast to continue at times into next week with up and down temperatures.

Some decent signs of ridging forecast later next week for the Eastern U.S. which equates to a nice warm up. 

Forecast temperature anomaly next 7 days:

Forecast temperature anomaly April 23 through 29:

Significant warming predicted for the final days of April