Thundery Wednesday warm front to send temps surging 20°+
The sun’s most direct rays fall on the equator at 7:07 p.m. Tuesday evening marking the astronomical start of spring.
Unfortunately, in few ways will Tuesday feel very springlike here in Chicago. Chilly air has returned with the onset of northeast winds. It’s a development not uncommon in March. Winds blow off Lake Michigan 37% of the time this month. Using history as a guide, winds in April and May will blow from the east 46% and 49% of the time respectively.
But the city’s weather news isn’t all bad. A northbound warm front, situated over Oklahoma and Arkansas as Tuesday dawns, is to sweep north, passing Chicago Wednesday.
Thundery downpours are likely to erupt. But the south winds it ushers into Chicago promise a temperature and humidity surge expected to lend the atmosphere the “feel” of spring Wednesday into Thursday-including a 20°+ temperature jump.
--By Tom Skilling, WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist