Sunday's 81-degree high coolest here since July 1

From reader sal.carcerano: Sun setting to west in Woodridge while storm clouds were clearing out. See more photos and send us yours.

By Steve Kahn

In the wake of Saturday's deluge, Chicagoans enjoyed a comfortable sun-kissed Sunday that featured a high of just 81 degrees, the city's coolest since a 77 degree high on July 1.

Monday and Tuesday also promise to be rain-free though both temperature and humidity will be creeping upward as tropical air edges back into the Midwest. That will set the stage for another dose of hot and humid weather Wednesday when the next round of thunderstorms is expected.

Since the June 1 start of meteorological summer, Chicago has received 14.33 inches of rain, making this summer to date the second wettest on record. The city is well on its way to a top 10 wettest full summer finish, needing only 1.31 inches to dislodge 10th place 1875 (15.64 inches).

Storms to cool down scorched East

The same storm system that brought Chicago its cooler weather also swept several days of record heat from the East. Thunderstorms that moved out of Illinois Saturday night reached the East Coast late Sunday packing damaging winds as high as 75 mph, ushering cooler air into the region.