Wednesday forecast: Slight chance of showers, thunderstorms, highs near 80s

After a day of excessive heat and an alert of poor air quality, weather officials said Wednesday would be much cooler with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon.

Tuesday, heat indexes reached up to 115 degrees in some areas, followed by thunderstorms into the night hours. Wednesday officials expect highs to reach near 80 degrees, and said there was a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms for portions of north central and northeast Illinois, and northwest Indiana.

Isolated thunderstorms are possible Wednesday morning mainly south of I-80, and into the afternoon, National Weather Service officials said,

Officials also said a few strong storms with isolated damaging winds and large hail, mainly southeast of about Pontiac to Valparaiso line.

Officials expect conditions to be mostly cloudy with temperatures reaching to a high near 80. Wednesday night conditions are expected to remain mostly cloudy with a low of around 69 degrees, officials said.

Current conditions at Midway Airport is mostly cloudy at 74 degrees, and farther northwest at O’Hare International Airport conditions are the same at 73 degrees.