Chicago's Christmas Day is getting a splash of rain to go with its holiday cheer. With an east-southeast wind blowing at a brisk 15 to 20 mph, and gusts reaching up to 30 mph, folks can expect the rain to start after 3 p.m. and the chance of precipitation to hit a high 90%. Those dreaming of a white Christmas will have to settle for raindrops instead, as temperatures hover near a high of 53. Forecasters anticipate new precipitation amounts to range between a tenth and a quarter of an inch. National Weather Service reports a similarly soggy scenario as the evening approaches with rain likely before 11 p.m. and a slight chance of drizzle after 3 a.m.
Tonight's temperatures are set to drop slightly with a low around 42 degrees. The winds are supposed to slightly ease up and change direction, shifting to a southwest breeze ranging from 5 to 10 mph after midnight, though gusts may still reach up to 30 mph. Tuesday's forecast calls for a mostly cloudy sky, with a temperature decline to around 40 by the afternoon, and winds gusting as high as 15 mph.
Looking further into the week, the weather doesn't seem to be letting up much. Tuesday night will remain mostly cloudy with a low around 34, while Wednesday offers a partially sunny sky and a daytime high near 42. By Wednesday night, the chance of rain creeps back up to 30% after midnight. For those making plans for the latter part of the week, Thursday brings a 50 percent chance of rain and breezy conditions, with temperatures mostly remaining in the low 40s.
Some respite may be coming by the end of the week, as Friday's forecast promises a mostly sunny day with a high nearing 39. The nighttime temperature is expected to drop around 30. The weekend outlook remains mostly sunny for Saturday with daytime highs around 40 degrees, followed by a partly sunny Sunday with a high near 37, hinting at a potentially dry end to the festive week. Chicagoans looking to keep track of the latest weather updates to plan their holiday week can check the forecast at the National Weather Service website.
