CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Showers and thunderstorms are expected Monday afternoon that could produce strong wing gusts up to 50mph and small hail, according to the National Weather Service.
A hazardous weather outlook was issued by the National Weather Service for most northern Illinois and northwest Indiana counties, which includes a limited thunderstorm risk and a wind risk.
In addition to the showers and thunderstorms expected, wind gusts of 40 to possibly 45 mph are expected briefly Monday afternoon as winds shift out of the northwest behind a cold front.
Accuweather Meteorologist Dean Devore said skies should clear out later on Monday, as temperatures reach near 70, before falling again later Monday afternoon. He said areas near the lakefront could experience chiller temperatures near 50 by the end of the day.
"It's going to be a rollercoaster today, ending up in the 40s tonight as skies clear out," he said.
Meteorologist Matt Friedlein agreed, telling the Chicago Tribune that Monday is only the start to a crazy weather week.
“We have a pretty strong cold front that’ll move through today bringing some pretty gusty winds along with some showers and probably some embedded thunderstorms, too. This will move into the Chicago area basically around lunchtime, around noon, and this will turn the winds to the west or northwest, basically, and it’ll make it pretty gusty,” he said. “Behind this front, the winds will gust to 40 mph, maybe even 45 mph this afternoon.”
According to the National Weather Service, Monday's storm is expected to be brief - less than three to four hours in any one location. Severe weather is not expected.
“It’ll be basically a three-hour period or so where there will be some rain showers and probably some embedded scattered thunderstorms in the area. Not everyone will see lightning or hear thunder, but there’ll be some around. So the combination of the showers, some storms around and the already gusty winds — it’s possible a few of the storms have even some gustier winds, maybe even over 45 mph — but no matter what everyone’s going to feel windy conditions and can expect some rain here," Friedlein said.
Even with a chilly start Tuesday, Devore said, the afternoon will be breezy with sun and clouds and temperatures in the 70s. Despite the rain Monday, Friedlein said the soil remains so dry that there’s an increased fire risk Tuesday. The National Weather Service said the windy and dry setup will likely result in elevated to critical fire weather conditions Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons.
“We’ll have to watch tomorrow with the windy, dry conditions and full sunshine warming up, some of the conditions for what we call fire weather may get a little critical — really dry, really windy, the ground’s really dry,” Friedlein told the Tribune. “So we’ll have to watch out for that. Anyone planning any burns tomorrow, it may not be a good day for that.”
Wednesday also should bring temperatures in the 70s, but then temperatures will start in the 50s Thursday with some showers and will fall back into the 40s.
"It's going to be a really chilly end to the week and start of the weekend" Devore said, "with highs only in the low 50s Friday and Saturday."
Chicago may experience its first frost of the season by the end of the week.