Brisk east winds held spring warmth in Chicago at bay once again Sunday,
keeping most area temperatures in the 40s near the lake and 50s inland. It
has been nearly three weeks since the city's last 60-degree day on March 24
and almost a month since this spring's singleton 70 was recorded on St.
Patrick's Day when the mercury soared to a balmy 74 degrees.
Monday will be anything but springlike here with temperatures hovering in
the lower and mid 40s as the area is soaked by a wind-driven rain. Sunshine
should return my midweek, but the persistent lake winds will continue to
chill the area with the city continuing to struggle to reach the elusive
60-degree mark. More rain is expected by next weekend, but southerly winds
ahead of the approaching storm system could finally boost the mercury well
into the 60s Friday.
Easter sunshine fades in the afternoon
Despite Sunday's coolness, the area was bathed in total sunshine much of the
day. It was looking like the city would record its first Easter with 100
percent of possible sunshine since 1977, but advancing clouds ahead of
Monday's rainstorm arrived by mid-afternoon, capping the day's sunshine at
just 76 percent.
--By Steve Kahn, WGN Weather Center Meteorologist
