A powerhouse storm system, the first major autumn storm of 2008, is barreling from
the Pacific Northwest into the Intermountain Region of the West Sunday. This system
will eventually be a significant player in Chicago’s weather. We’ll experience increasing
southeasterly winds and warmer temperatures starting Sunday. Southeast winds,
though, are lake winds for northern portions of metropolitan Chicago, so the northern
suburbs will experience much less temperature moderation Sunday than western and
southern sections. Rain and thunderstorms will overspread the area from south to north
by early afternoon and continue Sunday night as the western storm system shifts into
the Great Plains. Mild air will arrive in strength Monday and will persist through Tuesday
in advance of the western system.
Looking ahead, rain will push to the east of Chicago by Thursday as cooler, drier air of
Canadian origin arrives, but computer models suggest the cool interlude will be
short-lived. Milder air stages a return on Friday and carries afternoon temperatures into
the 70s by the weekend. It's not even out of the question that Chicago might see
another 80-degree day next Sunday.
