Chicagoans are enjoying an unexpected bout of warmth as September draws to a close, with the National Weather Service predicting a high near 76 today and even more sunshine to follow. According to NWS, clear skies will reign with a northeast wind keeping things at a mild 5 to 10 mph, as evening temperatures drop to a comfortable low around 62.
Cutting through the lingering warmth of summer, the forecast, as WGN-TV outlined, suggests highs cresting in the low 80s with a slight dip near the lakefront where mid-70s are anticipated; the extended outlook remains optimistic for sun-seekers, Monday is set to bask in the mid to low 80s and Tuesday with temperatures falling only slightly into the mid to upper 70s, casting its gaze over the lake, one can witness a tranquility as the city soaks up the final rays of September's benediction.
Historically known for its blustery monikers, Chicago's current climate plot thickens as WGN-TV reports "Well above normal temperatures will be present from the Northern Plains, Upper Midwest, Great Lakes and even portions of the Northeast." This warmth, snugly secured a mile high in the 850 millibar zone, drafts down into our streets and fills our parks with a glow typically dimmed by now.
Forecasters have peered into the week's weather crystal ball, and it’s dry, dry, dry, a fact which could worsen drought conditions, a red and orange tapestry is draped across forecast maps indicating the heat's stubborn stronghold over the Midwest, it's as if the sun has chosen to loiter in our corner of the world a while longer, when we might've expected it to move on these parched plots of the Midwest continue their thirst unsated the weather wields stories not just of what we feel, but also what the earth underneath requires.
As Friday heralds the return of the 80s and the weekend promises unabated sunshine, Chicago finds itself, per the usual flow of its unpredictability, dressing down when it might have been reaching for sweaters. While no immediate relief for the drought is on the near horizon, the city unwraps a week of golden opportunity to savor the warmth before autumn ushers in its brisk, familiar dance.
