Unseasonably warm Chicago weather prompted a line of storms with heavy rain to move through the area
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Part of the Chicago area is under a Level 1 risk of severe storms Thursday, ABC7 Chicago meteorologists said.
There will be two windows for rain Thursday, Tracy Butler and Larry Mowry said.
An earlier window passed by 3 p.m., but a second wave from 6 to 9 p.m. includes a low risk for severe storms.
Chicago's north, west and some south suburbs, excluding the Kankakee area, are under the threat of large hail or gusty winds, Butler said.
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It's possible that winds may gust up to 40mph, she said.
Thunderstorms are possible, and there is potential for severe weather, Mowry said.
Storms could develop west of Interstate 39 between 5 and 7 p.m., he said.
The evening storms would also be fast-moving, but a brief tornado is possible, he said.
Thursday will be warm, with a high of 58, Butler said.
She said there is potential for a record high Friday of 56 degrees.
People were out and about Thursday to take advantage of the warmer-than-normal temperatures ahead of the potential storms.
West suburban Aurora did get some showers for a short time earlier in the day, but for the most part, it remained nice out as many people came out to enjoy the brief break in the winter weather.
"Oh yeah. Bike riders, skateboarders, they're all taking advantage of it," a fisherman named Joe said.
The ice at Lake Opeka in Des Plaines slowly retreated under the sun, making fishing easier than expected for Joe.
"I came prepared for either opened water or to chip away the ice if I had to with a little chisel I got there," Joe said. "But, it looks like it's opening up on its own, and probably in an hour or two, all of this ice will be gone."
The gusty winds didn't stop some people from grabbing their golf clubs to take a swing on the course at the Golf Center Des Plaines before the clouds possibly turn ominous.
"It means if it's blowing in the right direction, I'm going to have really great drives," golfer Kenneth Omura said.
Some, like Bailey Doucette in Aurora, enjoyed this break in the cold weather by breaking a sweat and running.
"I'm actually training, right now, to get on the fire department," Doucette said. "If it rains, even better, makes everything a little more heavier. It feels good especially when you get hot enough."
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