For those Chicagoans desperately in search of some meteorological
affirmation that spring would eventually produce a mild day, Thursday
was the gift that just kept on giving. Not only was it sunny (for the
first time in a month, there wasn't a single cloud in the sky) but
temperatures surged above 60 degrees at O'Hare and Midway Airports for
the first time in April. A number of western suburbs even recorded low
70s, among them Wheaton with 73 degrees, Oswego with 72 and Plainfield
with 71. So slow is the eastward progression of weather systems across
the U.S. that Friday and Saturday's predicted sunshine here-in marked
contrast to the late season snowstorm lambasting the Rockies, including
the Denver area-is to continue heating the air mass in place. That lays
the groundwork for the back-to-back 70-degree highs predicted both days
in all but lakeside areas. The light easterly lake breezes that
occur-weaker and less able to deliver their chill as far inland as in
recent days-should yield shoreline temperatures that lag those farther
inland. Not since St. Patrick's Day has the city been treated to a 70
degree or higher official temperature. That's unusual. Weather history
indicates 80 percent of years here since 1928 have seen more than the
single 70-degree high on the books so far this season.
The 74-degree high predicted Saturday would be the area's
first weekend 70-degree reading in six months.
A blustery temperature downturn hits with a cold frontal passage late
Saturday night, and rain follows Sunday and Monday. But signs of even
stronger warming grow and a suite of computer models suggest an
atmospheric setup capable of delivering 80-degree warmth late next week.
