Current Weather Conditions and Forecast
Current Conditions
The current weather conditions are partly cloudy, breezy, and near seasonable temperatures. The winds are blowing at a speed of 10-18 mph, and the low temperature is expected to be around 46 degrees.
The Next Few Hours
For the next few hours, the weather is expected to remain partly cloudy, with a mix of sun and clouds. The temperatures will be fairly typical for late October, with highs reaching close to 60 degrees in the afternoon.
An approaching low-pressure system is expected to track well south of Chicago, which may bring a few spotty showers to parts of the area, mainly west and southwest of the city.
Hi-resolution Simulated Radar: 3 p.m. Tuesday and 8 p.m. Tuesday
Tuesday Day Planner
From the middle 40s in the morning, highs will make it close to 60-degrees in the afternoon. These numbers are right on par with late October. The “normal” high on October 28 is 57-degrees.
Tuesday Wind Gust Forecast
East winds will freshen noticeably by Tuesday evening as low pressure passes south across southern Illinois. This will create a tight pressure gradient indicative of gusty winds.
Tuesday U.S. High Temperatures and Departure from Normal
Lower 48 average high temperature only 58-degrees with summer heat confined to the Southwest, South Texas, and the southern half of Florida. Clouds and rain responsible for much below normal temperatures across portions of the Southeast Tuesday. The Rockies will also have highs that are significantly below typical late October norms.
Extended Outlook
Chicago’s Precipitation Chances
Here in the city proper and close-in suburbs, rain chances look fairly minimal in coming days. The best chances for seeing any rain would be areas far west and southwest of Chicago, towards Rockford, DeKalb, and south towards Ottawa. Most of Chicagoland will not see any showers.
Surface Map Wednesday and again Thursday
Weather system passes south of Chicago then towards the Ohio Valley, biggest impacts here locally will be some gusty winds.
Wednesday/Thursday Wind Gust Forecast
Winds are likely to remain elevated at this time, gusting 20-30+ mph at times.
Chicago Forecast Highs and Departure from Normal
Not much variation in highs this week. Temperatures will remain within a couple of degrees of normal on either side.
Powerhouse Hurricane Melissa: Late Monday Goes-19 Infrared Satellite of Category 5 Storm
Melissa Track/Map of Jamaica
Melissa’s track has shifted westward today, which reversed yesterday’s trend that would have severely threatened Kingston. The current thinking has Melissa making landfall west of Treasure Beach near Black River sometime Tuesday morning.
Melissa Peak Gusts at Landfall
Destructive wind gusts approaching 190 mph possible as Melissa makes landfall Tuesday morning. Photo courtesy: Weathermodels.com
