A slow-moving cold front is expected to stall out over the Chicago area this week, bringing some relief from the heat and multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms.

Some of those thunderstorms, especially on Thursday and Saturday, could be on the strong-to-severe side, with heavy rain and gusty winds the main threats, according to the NBC 5 Storm Team.

A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for a wide swath of the Chicago area, including DuPage, Cook, LaSalle, Kendall, Grundy, Will and Kankakee counties until 9 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton and Jasper counties are also listed under the watch until 9 p.m.

A ground stop was also issued at Chicago’s Midway and O’Hare airports on Thursday, with inbound flights being held at their departing airports as of 2:45 p.m.

In addition, nearly 5,000 ComEd customers were without power due to the storms, according to the utility’s website.

That system will be bookended by hot and humid conditions in the Chicago area, with heat indices expected to exceed 100 degrees on both Thursday and Monday, according to forecast models.

-A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for northern Kendall County until 3 p.m.

Storms on a line moving from Oswego to Yorkville are producing wind gusts of up to 70 miles per hour, according to radar estimates.

-A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for northwestern Will County, southern DuPage County and south-central Cook County until 3 p.m.

Storms on a line ranging from North Aurora to Yorkville and Plano is moving east at 50 miles per hour, and are producing wind gusts of up to 70 miles per hour.

Wheaton, Woodridge, Plainfield, Homer Glen, Hinsdale and Willow Springs could all be impacted by the storms, according to NWS.

-A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for east-central Cook County in Illinois and northwestern Lake County in Indiana until 3:30 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

Storms located on a line extending from Glen Ellyn to Bolingbrook to Romeoville are surging east at 50 miles per hour, and are capable of producing wind gusts of up to 70 miles per hour.

Considerable tree damage is possible with the storms as they blow through the area.

A heat advisory remains in effect in Lake, Kane, DuPage, Cook, LaSalle, Kendall, Grundy, Will and Kankakee counties in Illinois, along with Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton and Jasper counties in Indiana until Thursday night, according to the National Weather Service.

Heat indices will likely soar above 100 degrees in those areas, and could even approach 110 degrees in areas away from Lake Michigan.

There is also a chance of some isolated showers and storms during the afternoon hours as the aforementioned cold front approaches the region, but the bulk of the moisture won’t arrive until later in the day.

The Storm Prediction Center has the Chicago area at a “slight” risk of severe weather, the second of five prediction levels the SPC uses. That is an upgrade from the “marginal” risk that had been forecasted for the day.

According to forecast models, the main threats from any storms that develop will be wind gusts of up to 65 miles per hour, but the bigger concern will be the chance of flooding, as the nearly stationary cold front could bring repeated chances of soaking rain to the area.

Torrential downpours could occur late Thursday and even into Friday, bringing with them the chance for localized flooding across the region.

Here’s an update of expected coverage of rain and thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. The strongest thunderstorms will be capable of producing damaging wind gusts and torrential rainfall, which could lead to localized flash flooding. #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/i35RjNMijl

— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) July 24, 2025

Rain is expected to stick around into the morning hours, with the chance for flash flooding still very much in the forecast across the Chicago area as the storms slowly sag to the south.

That cold front is also going to bring with it some relief from the heat, with high temperatures only expected to top out in the low-80s across the area, with slightly reduced humidity, according to forecast models.

More chances of rain could arrive, with some rumbles of thunder possible as the front continues to exert its influence on the area. There will be a risk of flooding in some locations depending on where storms hit, according to the NBC 5 Storm Team.

The flood risk will ramp up again on Saturday as another round of strong-to-severe storms could occur as the front finally begins to push its way out of the area.

The entire Chicago area is at a “marginal” risk of severe storms on Saturday, with heavy rain and gusty winds once again the main threats.

Finally, the rain will exit the area Saturday afternoon, allowing daytime high temperatures rise into the mid-to-upper 80s, according to forecast models.

The back half of the weekend should be clearer in the Chicago area, though that will once again allow temperatures to rise into the low-90s, along with increasing humidity.

According to the NBC 5 Storm Team, the Chicago area could be poised for another round of hot and humid weather Monday, with highs soaring back into the low-to-mid 90s and humidity also surging, paving the way for elevated heat indices.

Relief from that heat could arrive on Wednesday, with temperatures dropping back into the upper-70s and low-80s as a more settled weather pattern temporarily takes hold.