Current Conditions
Shower chances hang around as the workweek nears an end, but extreme heat is on tap for Chicagoland this weekend. Friday opens with a fair amount of cloud coverage and prospects for a brief period of scattered showers and thunderstorms are rising on the latest suite of computer models. Partly sunny skies will bring the chance for passing, scattered showers, and possibly some thunderstorms, mainly through the late morning to early afternoon. Much of the area is at a level 1 of 5, or marginal risk, for seeing a strong or severe thunderstorm. Gusty winds and hail would be the biggest threat for the strongest storms, but this will not be widespread.
By the early afternoon, sunshine is expected to emerge through thinning clouds as the rain exits the region. Highs on Friday afternoon will be slightly warmer than average, reaching the mid-80s.
WGN Interactive Radar: Track the weather near you
It will remain warm and breezy on Friday night as lows fall to the mid-70s, under partly cloudy skies. Saturday will be hot, humid and breezy. Mostly sunny skies will help boost temperatures into the mid-90s as heat indices climb above 100º.
Friday temperatures
Highs should again peak in the middle 80s, similar to what we saw on Thursday, but humidity levels will be creeping up and will be quite noticeable later in the day, especially Friday night as gusty southerly winds take hold and transport the muggy air northward.
Summer Solstice: Chicago’s summer officially begins Friday at 9:42 p.m.
The summer solstice marks the longest day of the year and the moment the sun is the highest in the sky. It’s our longest day of the year with about 15 hours and 15 minutes of daylight. Days will then get slowly shorter until the Winter Solstice.
🔆 Summer Solstice: What to know
Friday Sunburn Forecast
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Looking Ahead…
⚠️ Extreme Heat Watch
An EXTREME HEAT WATCH is in effect for all of Cook County from Saturday morning through Monday night.
🔆 The first summer heat wave is about to begin. Over the coming week, temperatures are forecast to exceed 90 degrees for upwards of 220 million people and 100 degrees for another 35 million people — including some living in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.
Upper air set-up this weekend
A classic summer heat wave upper air pattern is taking shape. This is the projected 500 mb. forecast for Sunday evening depicting a huge dome of hot air over the central and eastern U.S. This map depicts regions with the atmosphere expanded beyond its normal configuration in regions shaded in yellow, orange and red.
Chicago forecast highs and how much above normal next five days
Heat takes hold beginning Saturday and is most intense through Monday
Intensely hot air builds across the Midwest and Great Lakes and spreads east to the Northeast, many daily record highs are in jeopardy during this forecast period.
Forecast highs (blended models) Saturday
Forecast mid-afternoon heat index Saturday
Forecast highs Sunday
Forecast mid-afternoon heat index Sunday
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