Sunday forecast: Sunshine, high temps in mid-40s as Chicagoland gets an early taste of spring

We’re all wise enough to know that winter is far from over in Chicagoland.

But it’s sure nice to get an early taste of spring, and Mother Nature is going to deliver it this week.

High temperatures won’t quite reach 50 on Sunday, but the forecast calls for that possibility for five straight days during the coming work week.

As for Sunday, we’re expected to get plenty of sunshine, with high temps reaching the mid-40s. That’ll still be about 10 degrees warmer than Saturday, when Chicagoland finally snapped a string of 12 straight days with temps below freezing.

Early-morning temps Sunday ranged in the mid-20s around the area, with wind chills a little colder, but not much colder.

Winds are calm to start Sunday, but they’re expected to pick up in the overnight hours, with gusts out of the southwest up to 25 or 30 miles per hour. But it’s those southwesterly winds that’ll keep temps well above average for late February, with some areas in Chicagoland possibly experiencing temps above freezing for 24 straight hours from Sunday into Monday.

There’s also some precipitation in the forecast this week, but it’s all rain, not snow. However, snow could return to the forecast with colder temps next week, so don’t put away the shovels and boots just yet!

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Current conditions

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Looking ahead

The extended outlook calls for continued mild temps on Tuesday, with highs near 50 and partly sunny skies. Wednesday looks soggy, with a chance of rain at times and highs in the mid- to low 50s.

It’ll be a bit cooler for Thursday, with highs in the mid- to upper 40s and partly sunny skies. Then it’s back into the mid- to low 50s on Friday, which is the last day of both February and Meteorological Winter, which consists of the full months of December through February.

It’s changing jet streams that will send the arctic air packing, allowing mild Pacific air to take up residence across much of the lower 48 states beginning this weekend into next week:

Below are forecast highs for the next few days in Chicago and the difference from normal for this time of year:

Below represents the departure from normal just above the surface. NOTE: The blue and purple colors depict areas of below normal temperatures, while the orange and red colors depict areas of above normal temperatures: