2 weeks Ago By Richard M. Sullivan
Chicago residents are preparing for a significant change in weather, as severe storms with potent winds are expected to assault the area starting Friday night. The warm front that will bring an unusually high temperature for this time of year, with forecasts suggesting the mercury could climb as high as 80 degrees, is projected to give way to tempestuous conditions.According to the ABC7 AccuWeather report, the storms will introduce themselves to the Chicago scene around 10 p.
m. and are anticipated to exit by approximately 3 a.m.
Yet, this fleeting visitation by the tempest will not be gentle, with wind gusts reaching up to 45 miles-per-hour forecasted for Friday. "The storms are expected to move rapidly and are expected to be more severe further south," ABC7 AccuWeather Meteorologist Tracy Butler was quoted.The potential for severe weather has prompted the National Weather Service to issue various advisories, including a Wind Advisory effective from 4 p.
m. Friday until the early hours of Saturday. The Storm Prediction Center is maintaining a watchful eye as it has placed Chicago and its northern suburbs at a Level 2 risk, while certain southern regions near Will County are on a heightened Level 3 risk, and areas further downstate brace for a Level 4 risk.
In light of the pending storms, a High Wind Watch will also be enforced beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday and is set to conclude by 2 p.
m. the same day. The windy conditions are expected to persist through Saturday, which marks St.
Patrick's Day celebrations, potentially causing disruptions with gusts forecasted to oscillate between 50 and 60 mph. The National Weather Service predicts Saturday's high will be in the 60s, giving celebrants a brisk but clear day.However, the reprieve from the storm will be brief, as forecasts indicate a sharp temperature drop by Sunday, with highs hovering around 40 degrees.
This chilling change marks a more than 35-degree plummet from Friday's high. By next week, Chicagoans will again find themselves navigating a mixed bag of weather conditions, including possible showers and snow with temperatures ranging from the low 30s to the mid-60s..
