CHICAGO (STMW) - The near-record breaking heat that blanketed the Chicago area on Wednesday is expected to give way to cooler air the remainder of the week.

The mercury climbed to 98 degrees for about three hours Tuesday evening at O’Hare International Airport, according to the National Weather Service. The temperature remained in the mid-90s around 7 p.m.

The record high temperature for July 25 was 101 degrees set in 1940.

A heat advisory for northern Illinois and northwest remains in effect until 10 p.m. The advisory means hot and humid weather which could cause illness.

The weather service is predicting a 40-percent chance of thunderstorms Wednesday night and Thursday, when the temperature will only reach 90 degrees. The high is expected to be in the mid-80s the rest of the week.

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