Nov. 02--Riding gusty winds over the central Plains, the leading edge of surging warmth reached the Chicago area over the weekend and could last until Thursday.
The official afternoon high Sunday at O'Hare International Airport was 63 degrees, 11 degrees warmer than Saturday. Monday looks to be another day with nearly 100 percent sunshine, with a southwesterly wind that should push afternoon highs about 10 degrees higher, into the lower 70s.
Indications are that this rare, late-season warm spell will extend into Thursday, perhaps setting a record-high temperature Wednesday. The record is 74 degrees set in 1978.
A cold front is forecast to move through our area Thursday night, accompanied by thickening clouds and an increasing probability of showers and a few thunderstorms.
Colder air will spread into the Midwest and Great Lakes on Friday, with clouds and showers persisting until later afternoon.
Cool, more seasonal temperatures will persist into the weekend.
