Cold Front Flirts with Friday's Heat

Temperatures in the 90's are no stranger to Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin during the summer months.  We've already had quite a few days where the high reached the low to mid 90's.  But when the heat lasts for even a short while with little relief at night, this is where people find themselves in trouble.

The past couple of days we've been on the outer fringe of the hot air with numerous storm complexes rolling from the High Plains into the

Mississippi River Valley.  The leading edge of that air begins to slide east Wednesday, and should be north of us by Thursday.  This means thunderstorms will be possible for Wednesday, but should stay north of us Thursday. 

It's Friday, though, that gets a little tricky with a looming cold front that could bring a brief relief from some of the heat.  Right now forecast models differ on just when the front will come through with some of them suggesting thunderstorms close by.  If that were to happen, the cloud cover and rain would bring temperatures down slightly.  If, however, that doesn't happen temperatures will continue to remain dangerously hot with the heat index continuing well over 100 degrees.