Unlimited sunshine and highs in the 80s are expected for Wednesday afternoon. (Credit: CBS)
Reporting Mary Kay Kleist
CHICAGO (CBS) — Conditions will be sunny and comfortable with low humidity Wednesday, but look for the blazing heat to return as the weekend approaches.
CBS 2 Meteorologist Mary Kay Kleist says the Chicago area will experience unlimited sunshine Wednesday, with only 54 percent humidity. And if you’re at the beach, you’ll be as comfortable as a hermit crab in a seashell, because an easterly lake breeze of 5 to 10 mph will be coming as the afternoon goes on.
The water temperature in Lake Michigan is 79 degrees – just a few degrees cooler than the air temperature along the lakefront. The high along the lake Wednesday is expected to be in the low to mid-80s, while elsewhere it will likely hit 87.
On Wednesday, a high-pressure system was keeping the skies clear – a trend that will continue overnight as the low drops to 68.
But on Thursday, a low-pressure system to the south will push northward, once again bringing serious heat and humidity.
A high-pressure cold front to the north will not make it south to Chicago, but the area could still see thunderstorms on Thursday. The chance is about 20 percent, and the storms will likely be concentrated primarily along the Wisconsin state line.
On Thursday, the high rises to a steamy 91, followed by 92 on Friday and 94 Saturday, when the heat index will make it feel like 100 or more. Another cold front arrives Saturday and brings possible strong storms late in the day, cutting the high down to 86 Sunday, 85 on Monday and 82 on Tuesday of next week.
