As low pressure moves out of the northern Plains into Canada, the associated warm front will surge north, passing over the Chicago area early Wednesday followed by increasingly strong southwest winds gusting over 35 mph by later morning. Afternoon temperatures will surge into the 80s, approaching the 90-degree mark in many areas.

The low-pressure system cold front will sweep through from the west overnight with thunderstorms expected along and just ahead of the frontal boundary. High pressure will follow Thursday with a brisk northeast wind off Lake Michigan. With a southwest steering flow aloft, the next low pressure system should quickly surge out of the central Plains, spreading a band of showers and thunderstorms back over the Chicago area Friday.