Furnaces will be firing up on Wednesday morning as temperatures bottom out in the chilly middle 40s, but in a little more than 24 hours the hum of air conditioners will be heard.
After Tuesday’s 64° high, the coolest here in nearly three weeks, readings will soar into the lower and middle 90s Thursday as strong south winds in advance of a “winter-strength” storm system, propel heat and humidity into the area.
This hot air blast will set the stage for a round of severe thunderstorms Thursday night into Friday morning before cooler and less humid conditions arrive.
Tuesday’s cool, showery weather was triggered by a sluggish upper-level low parked above the Midwest that has produced rain here every day so far this month. This system has produced numerous cold air funnels the past few days, and another one was sighted in Ogle County near Rochelle Tuesday.
--By Steve Kahn, WGN Weather Center Meteorologist
