As Chicago braces for the peak of winter, sunny skies today might deceive residents with a crisp high of 26 degrees, but don't let the lack of clouds fool you. According to the National Weather Service, the weekend is rolling in with a cold grip, with tonight's temperatures expected to drop to a chilly low of around 17 degrees, under mostly cloudy skies.
Saturday marks the winter solstice—the astronomical moment when the sun reaches the Tropic of Capricorn, and we experience the shortest day and longest night of the year. As the sun tiptoes across the sky, Chicago will see barely beyond nine hours of daylight, as reported by WGN-TV. While this could be a brief reprieve from the grip of a long, dark winter season, the weekend promises a glimmer of warmth as a high near 32 is anticipated on Sunday, rising from the cold embrace of the previous days.
Coming into the new week, Monday will likely stumble into a mix of dreary skies and the potential for a wintry touch, as the forecast suggests a slight chance of drizzle or freezing rain in the morning. The temperatures are set to ascend slightly, hitting a high near 41 degrees, while the chance of precipitation idles at about 30%, adding a touch of uncertainty to the start of the week.
Leading up to Christmas Day, travelers in Chicago might enjoy relatively mild conditions for late December. The typically frigid air loosens its hold, and while the skies remain mostly cloudy, no significant precipitation is expected to complicate holiday travel plans. In fact, temperatures are predicted to be "well above freezing," sans the threat of ice or snow hindering Santa's sleigh or any less mythical modes of transportation, highlighted in a summary by WGN-TV.
Looking past Christmas, the weather appears intent on maintaining the cloudy status quo. The city's journey toward the new year is bookended by forecasts of tempered highs in the mid-40s, and although a chance of rain awaits on Thursday and Friday, Chicago seems geared to close out December on a relatively gentle note, with the season's bite muffled by an unexpected warmth.
