Rainfall totals from 2.50 to 4-plus inches were recorded west and north of Chicago the past two days, with significantly lesser amounts to the south. The low pressure system responsible for the rain will move off to the east Friday with some remnant clouds and scattered light showers clearing out by midmorning.
For the most part, we escaped the severe weather Thursday — with a few showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon and later at night. The big story ended up being the huge 30-plus-degree temperature range across the area, as easterly winds dropped readings along the lakefront and in the Loop into the middle 40s, while inland locations such as Geneva, Joliet and Kankakee warmed into the mid- and upper-70s. O’Hare topped out at 70 degrees in the late morning, before falling back into the 50s when east winds hit later in the afternoon.
Once the sun breaks through, temperatures should warm well into the 70s Friday afternoon with sunny skies, and 80 degrees likely Saturday, before the latter half of the weekend turns cool with northerly winds and 50- to 60-degree readings returning Sunday.
