With a deepening low-pressure system moving east across Lake Superior and the core of an upper-level jet stream directly overhead Friday, the tightening pressure gradient will generate very strong west-southwest winds across the Midwest and western Great Lakes, including the Chicago area. A wind advisory will be in effect, with gusts in excess of 50 mph expected to boost our temperatures to near record-highs in the lower 60s across the Chicago area Friday (Chicago’s record high temperature for this date was 65 degrees in 1930).
The cold front associated with the low pressure will swing through Chicago in early afternoon, followed by Pacific cooler air. Winds will still be gusty but trending lower Friday night as the low pressure pulls east. Saturday temperatures will still be quite mild for this time of the year with highs forecast to reach into the middle 50s — about 18 degrees above normal.
Low pressure will move south Sunday followed by cooler high pressure that will bring readings back into more a seasonable range into the middle of next week. The high temperature headed into the last week of February averages in the upper 30s.
