Sunday forecast: Cloudy and windy, with morning rain clearing Chicagoland during afternoon hours

It’s been a rainy, windy start to Sunday around Chicagoland, and we’re about to get our first extended dose of some real fall weather.

While rain showers (which are much-needed) will begin to clear the area as Sunday afternoon progresses, temps will remain chilly, with highs only reaching near 60.

It’ll remain cool, cloudy and blustery overnight, then Monday brings sunshine, at least early, and warmer temps, with highs in the mid- to upper 60s.

But the warming will be brief, as the forecast this week calls for a real fall reality check, with temps much cooler than average for the middle of the week (see more below). 

Sunday: Forecast high-resolution radar at various times

Sunday: Forecast peak wind gusts late morning

Gusty winds could reach 40-plus mph at times Sunday behind the cold front.   

Sunday: Afternoon temperatures

Expect slowly falling temperatures, as much of the day will be spent in the low to mid-50s, a level not seen here since mid- to late May, nearly five months ago. 

High temps Tuesday are only forecast to be in the mid- to low 50s.

Wednesday looks to be the chilliest afternoon this week, with highs around 53 under partly sunny skies. A bit more sun is likely on Thursday, with highs in the upper 50s.

Then, clear skies Thursday night could lead to our first widespread frost of the season away from Lake Michigan, with Friday morning lows in the mid- to low 30s.

It’s back to the low 60s in the early forecast for both days next weekend, with a slight chance of a few Saturday showers. 

8-14-day temperature outlook: Oct. 25-31

After the chilly midweek temps, milder than average weather returns late this week and may continue overall for the final week of October across the eastern two-thirds of the U.S., while cool conditions persist across portions of California and the Pacific Northwest.  

Upper air flow: Next 10 days

A parade of troughs (cool, unsettled weather) from the North Pacific into the Northwest U.S. will progress across the northern tier of states, resulting in a fairly active pattern. 

A significant central U.S. blocking ridge builds in the Great Lakes and Northeast in the day 7-10 timeframe (above normal temperatures), with a huge trough developing in the Pacific Northwest.

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