Storms moving over suburbs

People should keep an eye on the skies today as small, isolated thunderstorms are expected to strike on and off throughout the day Wednesday.

Brief but heavy rainfall with frequent lightning has been forecast by the National Weather Service for Wednesday and into Thursday, however officials said the hardest rain and thunderstorms are expected later this afternoon and into Thursday.

There is a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m., for Lake, Cook, DuPage, Kane and McHenry counties, officials said. Lake County has already suffered through a light thunderstorm this morning.

Officials said the highs will be in the mid 80s today, but with heat index readings that could climb to the mid-90s.

Tonight, showers and thunderstorms are expected, with quarter inch of rainfall expected in and around Chicago. Higher amounts are possible, though are expected to be west of the city