Weather will remain active, but less harsh

Chicagoans reeling from a series of disruptive December storms will welcome this week's
transition to a progression of less intense and less extreme -- though equally fast-paced
-- weather systems.
Swollen area rivers will have a chance to drain, though substantially subfreezing
temperatures by midweek may retard the process.
The forecast indicates that three of the upcoming seven days are to be absolutely
precipitation-free. Contrast that with a total of only four dry days in the preceding four
weeks of December in Chicago.
MILD THROUGH TUESDAY, THEN COLDER
Temperatures Monday bounce into the 40s under a mainly sunny sky, but many will find it
unpleasantly windy. Southwest winds gusting well above 30 m.p.h. will create an afternoon
"feels like" temperature of 30 degrees despite an actual reading about 15 degrees above
the daily normal high of 31.
Relatively mild readings carry into Tuesday, but sharply lower temperatures and a little
light snow arrive late Tuesday. That sets the stage for subnormal temperatures that
persist through year's end.
--By Richard Koeneman, WGN Weather Center Meteorologist