A 124 year old record for the chilliest daytime May 14 high—44° set in 1882—appears vulnerable Friday. The thick overcast predicted to linger through much of the coming weekend promises to eliminate sunshine capable of boosting readings during the day. As a result, temperature levels rise no higher than the 40s Friday—levels more typical of early March and 24° below normal. Another half inch of rainfall is predicted by Saturday bringing this storm’s total to 1.50” at many locations.
NW winds, though hardly as strong as those which whipped the area yesterday with gusts to 44 m.p.h. at O’Hare and 48 m.p.h. at DeKalb, have forced chilly air into the metro area. By late Thursday, light snow was reported as far south as Madison, Wisc. Though light rain is predicted here at times Friday, several ice pellets or flurries can’t be ruled out in a few sections of the Chicago area—especially Friday morning.
-Tom Skilling
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
