Chicagoans dreaming of a white Christmas may need to keep dreaming as unseasonal warmth and rain are set to drench the city. Forecasters say there's no chance of snowy landscapes for the holidays this year, with the mercury potentially hitting a balmy 54 degrees on Christmas Day, a stark contrast to the frigid 14 degrees last year, NBC 5 Chicago reports.
The National Weather Service in Chicago predicts plenty of clouds with a high near 42 today. As the week progresses, overcast skies and rain showers will dominate beginning Thursday night with a 50 percent chance of precipitation and likely showers on Friday, putting a damper on last-minute holiday errands. The forecast from the National Weather Service also includes overcast conditions with highs inching upward towards the weekend.
The weather outlook for the lakefront areas doesn't promise any dramatic scenes either, with the Hazardous Weather Outlook indicating clear sailing for the Illinois and Indiana nearshore waters of Lake Michigan. This comes as a respite for residents along the lake, preparing for holiday festivities free from Nature's furor.
Should temperatures indeed peak on Christmas, Chicago will experience one of its warmest Christmases on record, as per forecasters. The city's all-time high of 64 degrees on Christmas was set back in 1982, while just a few years ago, in 2019, thermometers climbed to a noticeable 57 degrees, NBC 5 Chicago mentions. The warm and wet conditions this Christmas are expected to linger through to at least Tuesday and scenic snow seems but a distant Christmas wish.
