The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for much of the Chicago area, effective until 7 p.m. The watch covers Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties.
Throughout the afternoon, a series of Severe Thunderstorm Warnings were issued for communities across the suburbs as storms moved through the region, affecting areas from Crystal Lake and Elgin to Schaumburg and Aurora.
The severe weather threat coincides with a period of intense heat. Temperatures have reached the 90s, about 10 degrees above the seasonal average, continuing a trend from this summer. While areas near the lake may experience slightly cooler conditions, the heat index is expected to climb above 100 degrees for most of the region. In some southern suburbs, “feels like” temperatures could reach as high as 110 degrees.
Due to these conditions, an Elevated Excessive Heat Risk is in effect, particularly for areas south of Interstate 80.
A chance of showers and thunderstorms will persist overnight. Sunday is expected to bring a brief reprieve, with high temperatures in the low 80s. However, another round of heat is forecast for Monday, along with a chance of showers to start the work week.
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