Chicagoans are experiencing a brief spell of milder temperatures, with the city surpassing the freezing point yesterday for the first time since the previous Wednesday, reaching 40 degrees. According to the National Weather Service, the day should see highs reaching near 42 degrees, with general cloudiness increasing throughout the day.
As night falls, the weather is expected to take a wet turn. "Rain or drizzle likely after 3am," forecasts the National Weather Service, with a brisk south wind bringing gusts as high as 30 mph. With the approach of a storm system, temperatures are anticipated to continue to rise overnight, reaching an early high near 41 degrees before dawn.
Thursday is set to see the arrival of a rain front, primarily before 3 pm, and in swift succession, a cold front will bring a plunging drop in temperatures to about 37 degrees later in the day. FOX 32 Chicago reports a chance for a snow shower in the late afternoon, though significant accumulation seems unlikely.
The aftermath of this front will be a stark chill, with Thursday night projected by the National Weather Service to reach chilling lows in the teens, while wind chill values could feel as low as 1 degree. Delving further into the forecast, Friday appears to spell a sunny but blustery day, with highs in the mid to upper 20s.
Looking ahead, the weekend promises calmer conditions, a pattern of clouds and sunshine, and a moderate Saturday high near 45. FOX 32 Chicago notes that the projections for next week hint at warmer-than-average temperatures, even suggesting a notably warm Christmas Day, "well into the 50s," according to the European model.
