Dominating much of the eastern United States, a huge low pressure system over the Ohio Valley will steer cold Canadian air into northern Illinois at the same time it guides Hurricane Wilma through southern Florida today.
An unexpected break in the clouds Saturday night allowed temperatures to drop below freezing in areas to the west and south away from the lake, effectively ending their growing season—Aurora hit 24° while Rockford, Romeoville, and West Chicago all recorded lows in the upper 20s.
Tornadoes hit southern Florida ahead of Wilma Sunday, but its fast movement will probably restrict today’s rainfall totals in its path to the 2-4 inch range. As the low drifts east the first half of the week, northerly winds will prevail over Chicago, holding highs 5-10 degrees below normal. By midweek, Wilma will be a weakening low in the Atlantic, and southwest upper winds over the Plains will be a prelude to a Chicago warm-up next weekend.
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
