Originating in the central Plains, storms will track through the Midwest this week. After
a sunny start to the workweek Monday, warm, moist southerly flow riding over a warm
front to the south will spread showers and thunderstorms into northern Illinois on
Monday night. The storms will continue Tuesday with occasional downpours. By the
time the rain diminishes, totals well in excess of an inch may be widespread over the
Chicago area. Northeast Illinois should experience a brief break in the clouds early
Wednesday, only to have another warm front produce showers and thunderstorms later
in the afternoon and at night.
JULY-LEVEL HEAT LATE THIS WEEK
As the warm front moves well north of the Illinois-Wisconsin line, strong southerly
winds are expected to usher in midsummer-like temperatures and humidity Thursday
and Friday. Depending on cloud cover, some high temperatures -- especially to the
south -- could approach or even touch 90 degrees.
Another band of showers and thunderstorms could hit Friday night into Saturday.
Rainfall totals for the week ahead could easily reach 2 to 3 inches at many locations
across northeast Illinois, southern Wisconsin and northwest Indiana.
--By Paul Dailey, WGN Weather Center Meteorologist
