2008 coming to an end on a cold note

Computer models indicate the trend of Chicago temperatures over the next seven days is
downward, though viciously low readings are not anticipated, at least when judged by the
standards of late December and early January. The city's temperatures will struggle to
reach the lower 20s this afternoon. Chicago's high temperature on Tuesday -- 40 degrees --
was hardly a "mild" reading, but it's likely that area residents will not experience that
relative warmth again during the next two weeks.
STORM TRACK TO REMAIN NORTH
Chicago's weather through the weekend is to be dominated by a progression of rapidly
moving, moisture-starved and relatively weak weather disturbances. Three low-pressure
systems are anticipated, each pushing from the northern Rockies toward Lake Superior and
eastward to New England -- and each accompanied by a surge of light snow along that path.
Chicago, well to the south of the primary track, will see only light snow.
PATTERN CHANGES NEXT WEEK
The possibility of a major snowstorm looms for Chicago on Tuesday and Jan. 6.
--By Richard Koeneman, WGN Weather Center Meteorologist