Scattered Storms Today, Then a Warm Friday Before More Rain

Here’s the short version: we’ve got scattered showers and thunderstorms rolling through this morning and early afternoon, then things calm down tonight before another round of rain arrives late Friday. It’s going to be an active weather week here in Chicago, so let’s break down what you need to know.

Today: Scattered Storms, Mostly Northeast

Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms before 3 p.m., with the highest chances near the lake and northeast parts of our area. The National Weather Service is calling this a 40% chance of precipitation, with localized downpours possible if you catch one of the deeper storm cores. Highs will reach around 69°F, but here’s the kicker—temperatures will actually fall into the mid-50s this afternoon as the system moves through. Winds will gust up to 25 mph, so it’s a breezy day.

If you’re heading to Guaranteed Rate Field tonight for the White Sox-Rays game, bring a packable rain jacket and keep an eye on conditions. The rain should mostly wrap up by game time, but you might want a compact umbrella just in case.

Today’s not the day to mow the lawn or tackle outdoor projects—hold off until Friday afternoon when things dry out.

Tonight: Fog Alert

As we head into tonight, watch for areas of fog developing, especially near Lake Michigan. Temperatures will drop to around 47°F with mostly cloudy skies. The fog could be dense in some spots, particularly near the shoreline, so take it slow if you’re driving early Friday morning.

Friday: Warm and Mostly Nice (Until Evening)

Friday is going to be our nice day—at least for most of it. Morning fog will clear out, and we’ll see partly sunny skies with temperatures climbing to around 75°F. This is perfect weather for golf, a walk along the Lakefront, or finally getting that grill going. Winds will be light to moderate from the south-southeast.

But here’s the catch: late Friday afternoon into Friday evening, another severe weather threat develops, especially west of I-39. The National Weather Service is also flagging an areawide flash flooding threat, so keep your phone nearby for updates. This is the kind of day where you want to plan outdoor activities for the morning and early afternoon, then be indoors by evening.

The Cubs-Mets game at Wrigley on Friday should be fine during the day, but if you’re thinking about tailgating, wrap it up by mid-afternoon.

Weekend Outlook

Cooler air moves in over the weekend, and we could see frost concerns early Sunday and Monday mornings—not ideal if you’re planning to plant anything yet.

What to Cook

With rain in the forecast, tonight’s the perfect evening for a slow cooker chili or a hearty beef stew that you can set and forget. A programmable slow cooker makes it effortless—just prep in the morning and come home to comfort food.

Stay weather-aware out there, Chicago!