The sun-filled holiday weather of the past weekend spills over into the work week. Monday's 88 degree high at O'Hare and 89 degrees at Midway made it the warmest Labor Day here since a 95 degree high 24 years ago in 1983. Just a year ago, Chicago's Labor Day high was only 71 degrees.
The metro area is in the midst of its longest rain-free spell since early June. But, with all the sunshine Tuesday, the first day of school for thousands across the Chicago area promises to be a very warm one as temperatures flirt with 90 degrees. Readings that warm -- while not unheard of -- become increasingly scarce this late in the season. Only 8 percent of Chicago's 90s since weather records began here have occurred Sept. 4 or later.
Nicaragua and Honduras appear headed for a punishing blow early Tuesday from compact but potentially deadly Hurricane Felix. With hurricane-force winds which cover only a third the area of 2005's Katrina, Felix is one of only nine hurricanes to follow such a southerly track.
--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.
