Bring a Poncho: Rain Is in the Cards for Lollapalooza This Weekend

Festival goers heading out to Lollapalooza will want to pack their poncho and waterproof shoes. The weather is not looking promising for the annual music festival in Chicago as a rare late July rainstorm threatens the Windy City. Here is a look at when the worst of the conditions will hit.

Mixed Bag of Weather for Lollapalooza

A strong storm system is forecast to drop widespread rainfall totals of 1 to 4 inches across the northern Plains and Midwest heading into the weekend. The weather maker is forecast to move along at a fast clip, meaning that most of the areas in its path see the bulk of the rain fall within a 24-hour period.

However, the fast-moving nature of this storm means that some communities may pick up an inch or more of rain in a period of just an hour, raising the risk of flooding. The greatest risk of flooding will be across portions of Missouri and up into Iowa and Ohio.

The much-anticipated Lollapalooza Music Festival kicked off on Thursday in Grant Park.  The four-day festival will likely see the heaviest bands move through late Friday and into Saturday. Friday night could be a soaker for artists taking the stage in the evening. The good news is that the weather is not expected to rival the thunderstorms that roared through the region earlier in the week; however, attendees will want to be aware of the threat of frequent lightning strikes.

The rain and storms will stick around through the afternoon hours on Saturday. Conditions are expected to improve by the time Olivia Dean headlines that day's lineup at 8:30 pm.

While Sunday will be much drier in Chicago, there is a chance of an isolated rain shower or thunderstorm popping up during the afternoon hours. Any remaining bands of moisture should clear out by the time that the last acts perform, ending the festival on a high and dry note.

Temperatures will also be on a downward trend as the storms move through the Great Lakes and beyond. For instance, highs in Chicago on Friday through Sunday will hover in the mid 70s to near 80 degrees. Overnight lows will bottom out in the mid to upper 60s, making for pleasant readings, particularly compared to the averages for this time of the year.