National Weather Service officials believe the chilly weather is over for the season, but a large storm system headed toward Chicago is expected to bring rain and scatter thunderstorms over the weekend.
Warmer temperatures are on tap beginning Friday but a storm system moving out of the plains was expected to hit over the weekend in two waves, said meteorologist Brett Borchardt.
“One big storm system is moving out of the plains Friday into Saturday, and will hit the area in two waves,” Borchardt said.
The low, chilly temperatures in the past few days were normal for April, he said.
Thursday, temperatures are expected to be in the low 50s, with mostly clear conditions, officials said. Going into Friday, the day will start off partly sunny before an 80 percent chance of showers expected to continue throughout the day. Temperatures are expected to be in the high 50s, officials said.
The wet and stormy weather was expected to continue through Sunday. As a warm front lifts to the north Friday night, it will linger and bring storms, some of which may become strong to severe, officials said. As a second system moves in on Saturday, the chance of strong to severe storms are expected again into Sunday, officials said.
Rounds of heavy rainfall during this system could lead to flooding, officials said.
But Borchardt said he did not see any future systems with colder weather attached, he said.
“Warmer temperatures are here with wet conditions,” he said.
Current conditions at O’Hare International Airport are a few clouds at 50 degrees. Farther south at Midway Airport conditions are the same at 51 degrees.
