Possible Severe Thunderstorms Could 'Pack A Punch': Illinois Weather

CHICAGO — After local residents experienced a sudden shift from dreary gray skies to summertime temperatures to start the work week, the dose of heat and humidity may come with the threat of some serious storms Tuesday night into Wednesday.

The potential storms come as a record-breaking heat wave hits parts of the U.S., including the Midwest, with cities seeing unseasonably hot weather.

The National Weather Service is tracking what it characterizes as “conditional thunderstorms” that may arrive on Tuesday night. Forecasters predicted that while storms may not develop, if they do, they could be severe, especially north of Interstate 88.

Forecasters said that the storms could produce damaging hail, high winds that could reach 70 mph and tree damage between 7 p.m. Tuesday and 2 a.m. Wednesday, the weather service said. Forecasters are predicting a 50 percent of rain that could turn into storms.

If the storms do materialize, forecasters warn, they could "pack a punch."

Showers and storms are most likely to hit before 1 a.m.

Temperatures are expected to reach the upper 80s on Tuesday before the possibility of severe weather moves into the region. The heat and humidity will remain in place Wednesday and Thursday, when temperatures could push 90 degrees and feel even warmer with the heat index, forecasters said.

Wednesday brings a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 p.m., the weather service said.

Temperatures will return to the low to mid-80s for Friday before another chance of rain and storms arrive on Saturday, when temperatures will return to closer to normal. Air temperatures will stick around the mid-70s on Saturday before the mild conditions continue through the weekend and into next week.