‘Huge' heat dome with humidity, daily chances for rain and storms to creep into Chicago area

A “huge” dome of hot air is coming for the Chicago area the first week in September, bringing daily chances for rain and storms and temperatures feeling like the 90s.

The heat and humidity, the National Weather Service said, will make things feel more like mid-July.

“Hot and humid conditions will return next week with daily heat indices at or above 90F,” the NWS said in a post on X, with the humidity expected to be especially noticeable Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Joliet, Kankakee, Ottawa, Paxton and Pontiac could all feel like 95 degrees or higher on those days, the NWS said.

NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Pete Sack described the incoming conditions as a “huge dome of hot air, just to our south.”

“We’re on the northern edge,” Sack said.

In addition to the heat, the dome will bring on-and-off opportunities for rain starting Sunday night into Monday. The chances will last at least until Thursday, Sack said.

The heat and humidity will build starting Sunday, Sack said, when dew points will rise into the 70s, making temperatures sticky and muggy.

Friday and Saturday will be comfortable, with dry and partly cloudy conditions Friday and a chance for light rain at times Saturday.

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