By Meteorologist Paul Merzlock
While a storm system moving across the southern U.S. unleashed tornadoes and flooding rains on the Gulf states Saturday, Chicagoans were treated to sunshine and another day with above normal temperatures. The winter of 2011-2012 currently ranks as the 9th warmest on record in Chicago. To date there have been only 13 days when the temperature failed to reach freezing. There has not been a single sub zero temperature recorded. February has continued this trend with only one sub-freezing day thus far. Temperatures through Wednesday are forecast to average about 5 degrees above normal. Thereafter, current medium range forecasts suggest the Great Lakes region will be evolving into a colder pattern. Below normal temperatures are forecast by Friday. Along with these colder temperatures will come the risk of wintry precipitation. Though no major storms systems are expected to impact Chicago this week, minor accumulations are possible Thursday night or Friday.
While a storm system moving across the southern U.S. unleashed tornadoes and flooding rains on the Gulf states Saturday, Chicagoans were treated to sunshine and another day with above normal temperatures. The winter of 2011-2012 currently ranks as the 9th warmest on record in Chicago. To date there have been only 13 days when the temperature failed to reach freezing. There has not been a single sub zero temperature recorded. February has continued this trend with only one sub-freezing day thus far. Temperatures through Wednesday are forecast to average about 5 degrees above normal. Thereafter, current medium range forecasts suggest the Great Lakes region will be evolving into a colder pattern. Below normal temperatures are forecast by Friday. Along with these colder temperatures will come the risk of wintry precipitation. Though no major storms systems are expected to impact Chicago this week, minor accumulations are possible Thursday night or Friday.
