Abundant sunshine over Chicago in a mild pattern dating to last week teamed up to produce the highest temperatures of the month. O’Hare Airport topped out at 47°, while Midway reached 46°—the warmest readings this December. Not far to the north, clouds and fog lingered all day; Rockford reached only 36°.
The strong zonal jet stream responsible for the respite from the cold continues past New Year’s Day and into next week. High temperatures remain above normal, but the real mild air is measured by the minimums, which should remain 10 to 15 degrees above the current 17° normal low.
Upcoming weather systems in this pattern deliver respectable precipitation dynamics in the upper atmosphere, but not much moisture or contrast on either side of each passing cold front. Most precipitation will fall as rain, though flurries are possible on Saturday—the coldest day in the next seven days.
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
