Another round of 1- to 2-inch rainfall is expected to ramp up flooding over the southern portion of the Chicago area Thursday. Low pressure from the southern plains will track up the Ohio River Valley, inundating the southern and central portions of Illinois and Indiana with showers and thunderstorms. Rivers in already in minor flood will rise again well into next week.

As the center of low pressure passes to the south, strengthening northeast winds gusting over 30 miles mph will build 6- to 10-foot waves along Lake Michigan later Thursday into Friday. Chicago area high temperatures will stay in the 40s to lower 50s — some 15 to as much as 20 degrees below normal for the first week in May.

Warming should begin the first of next week with 70s finally returning by next Tuesday.