Skilling: Threat of severe weather Friday ahead of weekend cooldown

THE HEAT IS ON–THOUGH AN EXPECTED LAKE BREEZE IS TEMPERING THE HEAT IN LAKESIDE AREAS THURSDAY—LOW & MID 90s WITH TRIPLE DIGIT HEAT INDICES INLAND THURSDAY —-FRIDAY HOLDS THE POTENTIAL OF BEING THE HOTTEST IN THE CURRENT HOT SPELL–BUT SEVERAL TWISTS WARRANT MONITORING, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS A POTENTIAL 'WIND-SHIFTING BACK DOOR COLD FRONT' WHICH COULD SEND TEMPS CRASHING FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING OVER SECTIONS OF THE AREA EVEN AS WITHERING TRIPLE DIGIT HEAT INDICES GRIP SOUTHERN SECTIONS —ALSO SEVERE WEATHER AND THE POTENTIAL FOR THUNDERY FLOODING DOWNPOURS COMES INTO PLAY LATE FRIDAY OR, MORE LIKELY, FRIDAY NIGHT—MUCH COOLER, LESS HUMID WEEKEND FOLLOWS It's hot out there Thursday–though the predicted easterly lake breeze is doing its thing and restraining the most extreme heat in lakeside and north suburban areas closest to the lake.