Temperatures soared to 60 degrees at Chicago’s lakefront Thursday and to 61 degrees to the south in Lansing, Kankakee, Pontiac and in Gary. Readings that mild hadn’t occurred here in more than two months, since tornado-generating 60s put in an early January appearance. The month’s fourth set of 50s is forecast for Friday. But the mild spell’s stay will be short-lived. The passage of a cold front this afternoon shifts winds to the north/northeast, initiating a temperature drop. It will first be most noticeable in lakeside areas, with the chill tightening its grip over the weekend. While additional mild spells are likely in the weeks ahead, long-range projections suggest much of the coming two weeks will be below normal.
A WINDY, CHILLY PARADE
A powerful and expansive Canadian high-pressure system joins forces with the southern system to produce gusty northeast winds for Saturday’s St. Patrick’s Day parade in Chicago.
———-
Weather Report is prepared by the WGN-TV Weather Center, where Tom Skilling is chief meteorologist. His forecasts can be seen Monday through Friday on WGN News at noon and 9 p.m.
WGN-TV meteorologists Steve Kahn, Richard Koeneman and Paul Dailey plus weather producer Bill Snyder contribute to this page.
IN THE WEB EDITION: For updated weather news, forecasts by ZIP code and local radar images, go to chicagotribune/weather or wgntv.com
