As frigid high pressure moved east, southerly flow returned to Illinois Thursday. The opening three days of January 2008 averaged some 10° below normal, 25° colder than a year ago. Arctic air penetrated deep into Florida with snow flurries observed at Daytona Beach. Citrus growers were pressed into protective actions with 29° at Tampa, and 31° at Orlando. Miami hit a low of 39°. Noticeable warming begins today, then picks up momentum this weekend. The strong weather system presently lashing the west coast with damaging winds and heavy rains (snow at higher elevations) will cross the Rockies and force the development of a low pressure system that will move through the Midwest early next week. This will mean an extended period (into next Tuesday) of southerly flow that will feed mild moist air over Northeast Illinois’ shrinking snow layer resulting in drizzle, fog and showers.
--By Paul Dailey, 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.
