A very uncomfortable day lies ahead with a heat index in the mid 90s. Hazy conditions will result from an accumulation of particulate matter in the air. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency on Sunday has issued the 10th air pollution alert this summer for Chicago and the 13th of 2005. An approaching cold front early Wednesday should clear out the air pollutants—preceded by very welcome though most likely brief showers or thunderstorms, and followed by a much cooler, less humid air mass. More seasonable but somewhat unsettled conditions will prevail the latter half of the week. Longer-range forecast models still indicate no relief in sight from the extreme drought conditions that persist over northern Illinois. A severe solar magnetic storm continues, and some residents got a rare glimpse of the northern lights over the weekend. Still a Category 1 hurricane, flooding and high surf are forecast as Ophelia moves up the eastern seaboard.
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
