Gusty west and southwest winds drove temperatures in Chicago higher all afternoon, topping out at 64° at both Midway and O’Hare airports. Even Northerly Island along the chilly lakefront reached 63°, making Sunday the warmest day in four months—since the 65° Nov. 6.
But the party’s over for the mild spring weather. A sharp cold front will sweep south through the region Monday morning with temperatures falling all the way to the teens overnight into Tuesday. Northwest winds gusting past 30 m.p.h. will add intensity to the temperature drop.
This front signals the beginning of a long string of below- normal days as a powerful northerly jet stream locks in place along the western edge of a blocking pattern that stretches all the way to Europe. Stellar upper air credentials suggest it will be even colder than forecast, with a major storm late in the week—but computer models vary wildly on its timing and location.
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
