The east-moving north-south–oriented cold front was crossing the Mississippi River at 4PM CST this afternoon. Ahead of the front strong southerly winds gusting over 30 miles per hour were bringing 70-degree temperatures into northern Illinois. Midway recorded high of 72 degrees an all-time December high temperature for that location. Chicago’s official observing site on O’Hare Airport recorded a high of 70 degrees just one degree shy of the Chicago’s record December high of 71 set back on December 3rd 1970 and tied December 2nd, 1982. Many other metro-area locations hit the 70-degree mark this afternoon.
At 4PM CST A line of showers and thunderstorms was developing ahead of the front – extending from central Wisconsin into northwest Illinois – the southern portion of the line of showers was just west of Rockford moving in on Freeport. Showers and thunderstorms will spread east across the Chicago area this evening as the cold front begins it’s push through the area.
Some 3PM CST weather observations:
NORTHWEST ILLINOIS
CITY SKY/WX TMP DP RH WIND PRES REMARKS
MOLINE CLOUDY 69 58 67 S8 29.73S
STERLING* CLOUDY 70 59 68 SW6 29.75R
SAVANNA* CLOUDY 64 57 77 S9 29.73S
NORTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS
CITY SKY/WX TMP DP RH WIND PRES REMARKS
ROCKFORD CLOUDY 68 60 75 S10 29.76S
FREEPORT* CLOUDY 67 60 79 S15 29.75S
ROCHELLE* CLOUDY 68 58 70 S28 29.76S
DE KALB* CLOUDY 68 62 80 S24 29.78R
PERU* CLOUDY 69 58 68 SW28 29.78R
NORTHEAST ILLINOIS
CITY SKY/WX TMP DP RH WIND PRES REMARKS
CHICAGO-OHARE PTSUNNY 70 60 70 S24G31 29.76F
CHICAGO-MIDWAY PTSUNNY 71 58 63 S21G31 29.79F
AURORA PTSUNNY 68 59 73 S22G32 29.76F
LANSING* MOSUNNY 70 58 66 S21G30 29.81F
JOLIET* SUNNY 70 58 66 S13G22 29.78F
WAUKEGAN MOSUNNY 60 57 89 SE9 29.74F FOG
DUPAGE AIRPORT PTSUNNY 68 59 73 S23G33 29.76F
KANKAKEE* MOSUNNY 71 58 64 S21G26 29.84F
WHEELING MOSUNNY 69 60 73 S21G30 29.77F
MORRIS* SUNNY 71 59 64 S16G25 29.78F
ROMEOVILLE* MOSUNNY 70 59 68 S20G26 29.78F
NORTHERLY ISL N/A 70 59 68 S17 N/A
