Cooler conditions Monday night in Chicago with a pleasant week ahead

CHICAGO (CBS) — While lovely autumn weather continues this week in the Chicago area, we are tracking another powerful hurricane in the Gulf headed toward Florida.

Lows will drop to the 40s on Monday night. 

Hurricane Milton reached category 5 intensity on Monday -- the third-fastest intensifying Atlantic storm on record, and likely to become the strongest Gulf of Mexico hurricane on record so late in the year. 

Hurricane and storm surge watches are in effect for the Florida Gulf Coast where storm surge may reach 8-12 feet and devastating winds will damage homes and knock out power. 

While Milton is expected to lose some intensity before making landfall, it will still be a powerful major hurricane.

In the meantime, the Chicago area will enjoy cool, dry northwesterly breezes, which will lead to mild, sunny days and brisk, clear nights.

A series of cold fronts this weekend are forecast to lead to mainly dry, breezy, and cool weather for the Chicago Marathon. Sunrise temperatures are currently forecast to sit at 51 degrees with gusty north-to-south winds.