Spring Temperatures On Friday Could Set Record For Warmth
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The calendar might say February, but it will feel more like early May in Chicago on Friday, as temperatures flirt with record highs.
Temperatures were expected to soar into the mid 60s on the back of strong winds blowing in from the southwest. According to the National Weather Service, Chicago could see a high as warm as 65, which would match a record set more than 80 years ago, in 1930.
Chicago hasn't seen temperatures in the 60s in more than two months, since late fall in mid-December.
The normal high for this time of year is in the mid 30s, and the temperature was already in the low 40s at midnight, and near 50 by sunrise.
It will also be very windy across the Chicago area, with sustained winds of 30 to 40 mph, and gusts of 50 mph, or even close to 60 mph. Those strong winds could cause minor damage, and make driving hazardous, especially for taller vehicles.
Friday highs 59 to 66. Winds southwest 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 45 to 50 mph. pic.twitter.com/PN3kYlkQSg
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) February 19, 2016
The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday.
Temperatures will drop to about 40 overnight, and then the weekend will be somewhat cooler, with a high of around 57 on Saturday, and 48 on Sunday, when there will also be a slight chance of rain.
Next week will be closer to normal, with highs in the upper 30s through the middle of the week.