The recent chilly grip of the lake breeze loosened its hold on Chicago on Friday, replaced by south winds, higher temps and humidity, and a good chance of t-storms over the weekend. The last time a weekend was this warm: July 31-Aug. 1 of last year.
The southerly flow responsible for the pattern change is well established not far to our west, where southerly winds at all levels of the atmosphere should drift east from the Plains. Once this warm pattern takes over, it will be difficult to dislodge, though a break in the warmth is expected midweek with a weak cold front and winds off the lake.
Dynamics look good for needed rainfall, but moisture is lacking as inflow from the Gulf has to traverse dry ground to our south and west. As a result, rainfall should be less than the models forecast—a scenario Chicago has been caught in since March.
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
