Chicagoans kicked off the new year under cloudy skies and the prospect of more chills according to local weather reports. As flurries made a brief appearance before noon on New Year's Day, the National Weather Service predicted temperatures to hover near the mid-30 degrees, with a high around 36 degrees amidst north northwest winds blowing at 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight's forecast calls for cloudy skies early in the evening before they give way to clearer conditions, with temperatures dropping to a low near 27 degrees. Although there isn't any expected hazardous weather tonight, The National Weather Service warns of hazardous conditions for small craft on Lake Michigan continuing through Thursday. Gusts might reach up to 15 mph today, and potentially, 25 mph on Tuesday.
The Windy City will see a mix of mostly sunny to partly sunny days with highs persistently in the upper 30s throughout the week, as stated by local forecasts. However, snow might be on the horizon with a 20 percent chance of snow showers Wednesday night and again on Saturday.
CBS Chicago notes the quiet, albeit colder, weather conditions to persist in the city. After a snowy end to 2023, Chicagoans will encounter quiet and colder weather this week, according to the outlet's first alert weather report. Tuesday will bring partly cloudy skies, with temperatures expected to inch up slightly higher than today to a high of 39 degrees. While the snow chance picks up by the weekend, Wednesday will present with mostly cloudy skies and a high near 35, with a chance for some night snow showers in the mix.
As the city moves through the first week of 2024, residents can prepare for a blend of clouds, sun, some potential snowfall, and temperatures that shouldn't stray too far from the freezing point. The National Weather Service for the Chicago area does not foresee any major weather threats, distinctly pointing out that "No hazardous weather is expected at this time," for the early part of the week. With the lake effect in play, local weather watchers particularly in Northwest Indiana should keep a lookout for limited snow risk come Wednesday night.
