Showers, Storms Coming As High Climbs To 70
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A typical mid-March in Chicago is a mess of snow, sleet, and an occasional chilling rain, and winter coats are still a bare necessity.
But right now, it might as well be mid-May, with temperatures climbing to 70 degrees and springtime thunderstorms making their way toward the area.
CBS 2 Meteorologist Megan Glaros said as of 11:20 a.m., it was 62 degrees at O'Hare and Midway international airports and 64 in Gary, Ind., under dry, overcast skies and gusting winds.
But as the afternoon goes on, those skies won't be so dry anymore. As of the 11 a.m. hour, storms were already working their way through the Rockford area, sending pea-sized hail cascading onto the ground and bringing thunder and lightning.
The storm system is caused by a cold front comes through and slamming into the warm, moist air now over the area. It will find its way to Chicago later in the afternoon, and could bring hail, gusty winds, and thunder and lightning.
Glaros says there is a slight risk for severe weather from the Chicago area east all the way to central Michigan. Isolated tornadoes are always a possibility in severe weather situations, but Glaros says the risk is low.
The high for the day Monday is 70, followed by an overnight low of 47. And for the rest of the week, there is nary a day with a forecast high lower than the mid-60s.
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The high for Tuesday is 65, Wednesday 73, Thursday 70, Friday and Saturday 69, and Sunday 70 again.
