A strong cold front extending out of an intensifying low pressure center just north of Lake Superior and oriented north-south through central Wisconsin through eastern Iowa into central Missouri mid-morning is expected to continue an eastward movement today - reaching downtown Chicago late this afternoon/early this evening and then moving out over Lake Michigan. A very strong pressure gradient is associated with this low pressure system with southerly winds at 25 miles per hour with gusts between 40 and 50 miles per hour forecast for the Chicago area this afternoon along with showers and a few thunderstorms as the front approachess.
During and immediately following the cold frontal passage, winds will shift to the southwest and then west-northwest gusting from 20 to 35 miles per hour. Temperatures will rapidly fall 20 to 25 degrees in just an hour or two - from the 60s into the 40s. Fans attending the Bears - Houston game this evening should not only be prepared for rain - but also chilling temperatures. By game's-end readings could be in the 30s with diminishing rain possibly changing over to wet snow.
