Saturday temperatures soared into the 60s and even 70° in snow-free areas of the Dakotas. This surge of warmth, headed toward the Midwest Sunday, pooled ahead of a cold front gathering strength in southern Canada. As a result, Sunday’s highs around Chicagoland should easily make it into the mid 50s with breezy west to southwest winds, and rain holding off until the wee hours of Monday.
But the shoe drops when that cold front sweeps through Chicago around noon on Monday. Falling afternoon temperatures turn the widespread light rain to snow as evening temperatures plummet and overnight lows bottom out around 20°. This return to chilly winter weather is a result of the blocked pattern in the Atlantic, one which appears locked in place for the next two weeks. Chicago sits towards the western edge of the cold air, with the brunt of the chill destined for New England.
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
