September warmth to spill into October
At midnight tonight, September enters the record books as one of Chicago's warmest, sunniest, and driest in recent years. And summer refuses to let go, because October will begin where September left off. Afternoon temperatures in the 70s and 80s are projected right through the upcoming week.
Computer models indicate the jet stream and major storm track will remain well to the north, approximately along the Canadian border, and southerly wind flow will be the dominant factor in Midwest weather for several days. That keeps Chicago's afternoon high temperatures 7-16 degrees above the upper 60s that are typical at this time of the year.
September's exceptionally sparse precipitation totaled barely more than an inch -- only one-third of normal -- but that might improve in October. Several opportunities for showers and thunderstorms may present themselves, especially with a pattern change 6-8 days from now.
--By Richard Koeneman, WGN Weather Center Meteorologist