Sunday forecast: Cloudy with rain chances, but temps still above average around Chicagoland

Sunday’s forecast is somewhat similar to Saturday’s, and the first part of the upcoming work week could very much look that, too, around Chicagoland.

loudy skies and periodic showers or storms will prevail, but so will above-average temperatures for this time of year, due to prevailing southwest winds. Sunday marks the last official day of summer, with high temps expected to be in the mid- to upper 70s.

Forecast models show a mostly dry afternoon, with isolated showers and storms popping up around the time the Bears and Cowboys kick off at Soldier Field at 3:25 p.m., then persisting overnight into Monday.

There is a marginal risk for severe weather Sunday in the south/southwest part of Chicagoland.

Monday is the first official day of fall, with the equinox happening around 1:20 p.m. Somewhat cooler temps could come to Chicagoland by the end of the upcoming work week, but temps still look to remain on the warm side for a while (see more below).

Forecast animation: Tracking potential timing for scattered showers, possible thunderstorms

You can see by this animation that there will be plenty of dry hours to get things done outdoors around Chicagoland during the next several days, but showers and thunderstorms will be on and off through the weekend and into part of next week. 

How much rainfall can you expect? Forecast total through Wednesday at 7 p.m.

The heaviest rainfall is expected to fall in downstate Illinois and Missouri, but at least some beneficial rain is expected across the Chicago area in distinct separate clusters. 

Forecast average high temperature anomaly: Monday, Sept. 22-Friday, Sept. 26

The greatest temperature surplus will occur across the northern-tier states near the U.S./Canadian border, while unsettled weather brings cooler, more seasonable weather across the Chicago area and much of the Mid-Mississippi River Valley.

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