THE LOOP — A potentially severe storm beginning Monday afternoon is expected to wipe out the beautiful sunny weather of the last few days and leave several chilly, rainy days in its wake, meteorologists said.
After temperatures peak around 80 degrees midday Monday, a late afternoon storm is expected to bring heavy wind and giant hail, according to Ricky Castro, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service.
Gusts could reach up to 60 mph, Castro said, and Chicagoans could see "half-dollar-size" hail by evening.
"At that point, the wind is capable of knocking down tree limbs," Castro said. "So that's why we're calling it a 'severe' storm, even though the tornado threat still seems pretty low."
The storm will herald a cold front, he added, shrouding the city in thick cloud cover most of the rest of the week.
"It'll be pretty chilly, and the wind will be pretty raw, especially Downtown and by the lakefront," Castro said. "So people should really be going out Monday, 'cause it'll be the warmest day of the week by far."
A mostly dry Tuesday will give way to "lingering rain" Wednesday and Thursday, he added.
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