Currently in Chicago — July 12, 2023: Chance for rain through Friday

The weather, currently.

Takeaways for Chicago's weather:

1. Damaging winds and hail possible Wednesday

2. Warmer but no extreme heat

3. Mostly dry weekend

The Storm Prediction Center has our area in a marginal to slight risk of severe weather on Wednesday. That is levels one and two out of a possible five. Strongest storms are favored during the morning hours and locally heavy rain is possible as highs hit just the middle 70s. Scattered showers and thunderstorms possible mainly early and late Thursday and Friday with highs in the lower 80s Thursday and then climbing into the upper 80s Friday. Seasonably warm this weekend with highs in the middle 80s with a mix of sunshine and clouds but a few scattered afternoon showers are possible.

— Tim McGill

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What you can do, currently.

The climate emergency doesn’t take the summer off. In fact — as we’ve been reporting — we’re heading into an El Niño that could challenge historical records and is already supercharging weather and climate impacts around the world.

When people understand the weather they are experiencing is caused by climate change it creates a more compelling call to action to do something about it.

If these emails mean something important to you — and more importantly, if the idea of being part of a community that’s building a weather service for the climate emergency means something important to you — please chip in just $5 a month to continue making this service possible.

Thank you!!

What you need to know, currently.

Southern California will be the epicenter of one of the most intense heat waves ever recorded in the US Southwest this week.

Temperatures in Death Valley are expected to reach 130°F (54.4°C), challenging an all-time world record. The duration and intensity of this particular heat wave is also giving authorities caution, with the National Weather Service’s excessive heat outlook reaching ‘extreme’ for areas just inland of Los Angeles.

The heat wave comes courtesy of an especially strong high pressure system, which will act to dry out the atmosphere and cause additional heating due to descending air across the region. The name for this phenomenon is a heat dome, which can be self-reinforcing if it persists over the same region for a long enough period of time.

The California Department of Public Health has helpful information on how to stay cool — and safe — in this deadly heat.

—Eric Holthaus