The cloudiness predicted to filter and eventually hide the sunshine with which Saturday opens is traveling into Chicago's airspace ahead of a weather system expected to bring November's first significant rain. Sprinkles begin late Saturday night then build into steady rainfall expected to continue into Sunday morning. A lingering overcast may brighten a bit Sunday afternoon as the atmosphere dries and higher clouds diminish. But, the sun-obscuring low clouds which linger could still manage a few sprinkles.
The prospect of some rain isn't all bad news. Precipitation here has been in short supply all autumn. The paltry 0.01" which has fallen to date during this month's first nine days makes it one of only eight Novembers since 1871 to open so dry. In the meantime, since meteorological autumn began Sept. 1, the season's 2.93" -- just 42 percent of the 7" considered normal to date -- places it among the four driest Sept. 1-Nov. 9 periods since 1958.
--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.
