Wednesday opens with south winds blowing and Chicago in the "warm sector" of a
storm that swept 70s into Kansas and Oklahoma on Tuesday. That mild air in
combination with an influx of Gulf moisture and a fairly steep decline of temperatures
early Wednesday threatens to set the atmospheric stage for some thunderstorms. But
the warmth won't last long. Arctic air is on the move. A late season cold blast sends
temperatures diving Wednesday evening in what is to become the Chicago area's
coldest outbreak in two weeks—since 17 and zero-degree temperature extremes Feb. 4.
While longer days and more direct sunlight takes a bit of the edge off late winter cold
spells, Thursday’s chill is to be impressive. Daytime temperatures will be 15 degrees
below normal with single-digit wind chills.
ONLY 9 FEBRUARYS IN PAST 124 YEARS WITH SO LITTLE SNOW
Only modest snows are predicted as the cold air arrives Wednesday night. Some 1- to
2-inch totals aren't out of the question over portions of the area. More impressive
snow may occur Friday night into Saturday. Until then, February 2009 continues as one
of the nine least snowy to date in 124 years. Only 0.2 inches is on the books.
--Tom Skilling, Chief Meteorologist, WGN-TV/Chicago Tribune
