By Meteorologist Paul Merzlock
Chicago's official high temperature Saturday reached 26 degrees, marking the first time this season that the mercury failed to reach 32 degrees. Saturday will also be the last sub-freezing day for a while as mild air over the Plains states lies poised to overspread the region on Sunday. High temperatures from Kansas through South Dakota reached the 40s and 50s on Saturday. Chamberlain, SD reached 56 degrees while Sioux Falls warmed to 48.
Southwest winds across the Midwest on Sunday will sweep this mild air into the Chicago area. Our temps are not expected to approach the 50-degree mark, but will likely reach or exceed 40. Broad southwest flow aloft will persist across the eastern 2/3 of the U.S. through midweek, thus above normal temperatures will likely continue through Wednesday. A potent storm system is forecast to move through the upper Midwest early Thursday bringing falling temperatures in its wake. Friday's highs will be closer to normal for the third week of December.
Chicago's official high temperature Saturday reached 26 degrees, marking the first time this season that the mercury failed to reach 32 degrees. Saturday will also be the last sub-freezing day for a while as mild air over the Plains states lies poised to overspread the region on Sunday. High temperatures from Kansas through South Dakota reached the 40s and 50s on Saturday. Chamberlain, SD reached 56 degrees while Sioux Falls warmed to 48.
Southwest winds across the Midwest on Sunday will sweep this mild air into the Chicago area. Our temps are not expected to approach the 50-degree mark, but will likely reach or exceed 40. Broad southwest flow aloft will persist across the eastern 2/3 of the U.S. through midweek, thus above normal temperatures will likely continue through Wednesday. A potent storm system is forecast to move through the upper Midwest early Thursday bringing falling temperatures in its wake. Friday's highs will be closer to normal for the third week of December.
