A cooling trend that began on Sunday continues today, gathers strength Tuesday and
arrives with vigor on Wednesday and Thursday. Saturday’s 81-degree reading is a warm
memory, and before the cooldown runs its course, Chicago’s temperatures will have
declined to an expected early-morning minimum of 41 degrees on Thursday. That’s a
40-degree plunge over a five-day period.
Air of Canadian origin surges into Chicago Tuesday on the wings of 25 m.p.h. winds from
the northwest, and jackets will be the order of the day. Afternoon temperatures won’t
make it out of the 50s on Wednesday and Thursday, though winds will subside.
HIGHS IN 50s THIS TIME OF YEAR: RARE
Historically, Chicago’s highs have failed to reach 60 degrees on only 14 percent of the
days on record during Sept. 29-Oct. 3.
