A weekend of off-and-on thunderstorms could lead to the return of severe heat and additional storms throughout next week, according to the National Weather Service.
Saturday’s storms aren’t expected to be severe, with temperatures projected to reach near 85 degrees, though the heat index could push it to 91 degrees in the late afternoon. Throughout the day, there will be a slight chance of thunderstorms.
Officials said this weekend’s weather largely depends on storms moving through states to the west of Illinois, including South Dakota and Iowa, NWS meteorologist Jake Petr said.
There is a possibility that weakening storms with gusty winds sweep through the area from mid-morning to midday Saturday, with widely scattered thunderstorms in the evening, he said.
Rain showers and periodic storms are possible every day through Tuesday before humidity and heat were expected to build again in the Chicago area, the weather service predicted.
Afternoon heat indices could reach 100 degrees by Wednesday and Thursday. Periodic storms might also spring up during the week, according to the Weather Service.