For the next seven days a nearly stationary strong west-to-east jet stream will be
positioned from the central plains to the East Coast. As a result, the southern edge of a
cold Canadian-source air mass will sit over the Midwest. The coldest air of the season
will rest over northeast Illinois Sunday, reinforced by strong west-to- northwest winds.
More sun Monday will push readings into the lower 40s, then clouds associated with
low pressure to the south will spread into northern Illinois and probably will persist the
remainder of the week. As low pressure systems track closer to Chicago, the chance of
rain increases significantly by midweek. By week's end a major storm is forecast to
develop that will carry a cold punch that could send temperatures in a downward spiral
Saturday and bring an extensive band of snow showers from Minnesota to Kentucky
and beyond.
PALOMA WEAKENS OVER CUBA
Category 4 Hurricane Paloma hit the southern shores of Cuba early Saturday evening.
The storm is expected to move off Cuba's northern shore into the Atlantic Sunday as a
considerably weakened tropical storm. Forecasters indicate Paloma will continue to
weaken as it drifts northeast.
--By Paul Dailey, WGN Weather Center Meteorologist
