Record-breaking heat and strong winds: What to know about this week's Great Lakes Storm

Southerly winds are pushing temperatures to near-record highs across the Great Lakes today, with early morning readings at 70°F—almost 30 degrees above average for late October.

As the day progresses, temperatures are expected to climb into the low to mid-80s. Gusts could reach up to 45 mph, easing slightly in the afternoon but still hovering around 35-40 mph. These strong winds will affect portions of the western Great Lakes, including Milwaukee and Chicago.

The warm, gusty conditions and drought-affected dry ground have led to a Red Flag Warning in areas like Cook and DuPage Counties of Illinois. This means there's an elevated risk of brush fires in these areas.

The warmer stretch continued into the evening, with overnight lows in the 60s and 70s. Winds will stay strong, with gusts expected to reach 45 mph. This unseasonable warmth sets the stage for another near-record day on Wednesday, although increased cloud cover might limit the daytime temperature climb.

Wednesday will see similar gusty conditions, but a front will be on the way, bringing chances by late Wednesday into early Thursday for the western Great Lakes. Wind gusts ahead of the front may reach 45 mph. Make sure those Weather Alerts are turned on. This same front could spark a few isolated severe thunderstorms across the Central Plains from Oklahoma City to Kansas City.

Rain will taper off through the afternoon for portions of the western Great Lakes, making way for drier, cooler weather just in time for Halloween. Areas to the east, like Detriot, Cleveland, Ohio, and Pittsburgh, Penn., will have a higher chance of rain through the festive evening. Check the WeatherRadar to get exact details on the timing and location of storms and even where we may see wintry precipitation lingering.