Eight of September's opening nine days here have been warm with highs of 80 degrees or higher, including one official 90 degrees on Sept. 5. All that is going to change later this week as the mercury is expected to embark on a decidedly downhill trend. After fluctuating through the 70s much of this week, a slug of chilly air will descend into the Midwest on Friday, bringing a reminder of autumn's inevitable advance. Highs should peak in the upper 60s Friday, with Saturday looking especially chilly as readings struggle to reach the low 60s.
Tropical Storm Gabrielle is heading out to sea after lashing eastern North Carolina with 50 m.p.h. wind gusts, high waves and dangerous rip currents Sunday. The NOAA buoy located southeast of Cape Hatteras measured 15-foot waves, and 5.50" of rain soaked coastal Morehead City. However, the storm produced minimal damage, and much of the drought-stricken Tar Heel state missed out on what would have been a welcome rainfall.
--By Steve Kahn, WGN Weather Center Meteorologist
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
