Get your flip flops, umbrellas and winter coats ready this week, as the bad weather is expected to continue in the Chicago area, starting with record warmth and temperatures in the 70s.
As the work week begins, here's a breakdown of Chicago's forecast for Monday and beyond.
Monday: An expected rise in temperatures
According to the NBC 5 Storm Team, Monday morning is starting off cold. At about 5:30 a.m., temperatures reached about 35 degrees in much of the country, NBC 5 Meteorologist Alicia Roman said. However, by Monday afternoon, temperatures will be about 30 degrees warmer than that.
The average temperature on February 26 is 40 degrees, Roman said. High temperatures expected on Monday will be noticeably warmer at 69 degrees. Roman said this temperature is expected to exceed the record high temperature set in 2000, which was 64 degrees.
“Some areas could reach 70,” Roman said. Other areas are expected to remain in the mid to upper 60s, Roman added.
Monday will also be breezy, with winds reaching 30 mph. An alert from the National Weather Service said these conditions could create a “high fire risk.”
“Strong winds, extremely dry conditions and record warm temperatures will create a high fire risk this afternoon,” the warning stated.
Skies are expected to be partly sunny, with more clouds appearing in the afternoon. Through Monday night, parts of the Chicago area may see a low chance of rain or isolated thunderstorms, Roman said.
“If any storms develop, the strongest storms could produce hail, perhaps up to about an inch in diameter,” the weather service added.
Tuesday: Temperatures 70 degrees followed by thunderstorms
Tuesday will be a warmer day, according to Roman, with a summer-like high of 74 degrees. Roman added that the highest temperature recorded on Tuesday was 75 degrees, recorded in 1976.
Tuesday will also see the possibility of rain and storms, some of which could be strong to severe, Roman said.
According to the Storm Prediction Center, the entire Chicago area Tuesday afternoon will be under a “slight” risk of severe weather, which ranks second to level five on the SPC's severe weather scale.
“All the weather risks are there,” Roman said, noting that damaging winds, hail and tornadoes are all possible.
According to Roman, the greatest chance of weather fluctuations comes between 4 pm and 10 pm on Tuesday. Then a cold front enters.
“Rain and storms will cause temperatures to drop significantly Tuesday night,” Roman said.
Wednesday: Temperatures drop
Early Wednesday, a cold front arrived moving in behind the storm, with temperatures dropping and even flurries possible, Roman said.
“Yes, we're looking at snow,” Roman said, adding that light snow could fall early Wednesday between 2 and 8 a.m.
Temperatures at that time are expected to be in the 20s, Roman said, a far cry from the warm 70 degrees just 24 hours ago.
“Going from the 70s Tuesday afternoon to the 20s early Wednesday morning,” Roman said, adding that highs are expected to be in the mid-30s to low 40s.
Extended forecast
Temperatures are expected to remain in the 40s and 50s midweek, before returning to the 60s by the end of the week, Roman said. The following week brings temperatures up to 60 degrees and a chance of storms, Roman said.
