Chicago area temperatures hit rarified heights Friday afternoon, with most locations recording highs in the upper 80s to lower 90s. Highest readings included 93 degrees at Kankakee and 91 degrees at Northerly Island. Midway's 90 degrees was only the 4th time this figure was reached on Sept. 21 in 80 years of weather records at that site.
However, Chicagoans will experience significantly cooler and less humid conditions today as Canadian high pressure pushes into the area. The impact of this high will be short-lived as it quickly moves east. Strong warming southerly flow up the backside of that high reaches into Illinois Monday. The best chance of thunderstorms next week will most likely be Monday night and Tuesday, preceding and accompanying a vigorous cold front.
Tornadoes were associated with a low pressure system along the northern Gulf Coast Friday night, with heavy rains and flooding expected as it moves into southern Mississippi today.
--By Richard Koeneman, 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.
