The warmest weekend since last fall is predicted for Chicago—one which may include the first 80° temperature of the year Sunday. Over the past decade, the first 80° reading of the season has occurred on or about April 19. That would put Sunday’s 80° about on schedule. The last time a weekend was as warm as the one ahead was 7 months ago on Sept. 16-17 and the last time a daytime high hit 80° here was Oct. 3—over a half year ago.
Despite the vigorous atmospheric warm-up, Lake Michigan’s surface water temperature is at its coolest level for this date in 4 years—a by-product of April’s chilly weather.
While the atmosphere has entered a warming mode here, the snow is flying in Montana and a chill is settling over much of the West. At Box Elder, Mont. snowfall Thursday measured 16”. Snows reached 13” at Moss Peak and 6” at Lewiston—both in Big Sky Country.
--By Tom Skilling, WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
