Weekend Weather Forecast: What's in the North Shore Clouds?

Weekend Weather Planner for the North Shore

Much of the weekend looks very nice with a large area of high pressure in control. As the high pressure system moves off to the east, the risk of showers and t-storms will increase toward the end of the weekend or early next week.

Saturday: Partly to mostly sunny and quiet.

      Low temp: 47 degrees Fahrenheit

      High temp: 67 degrees Fahrenheit

      Wind: Southeast at 10-15 mph

Sunday: Partly sunny with a 30 percent chance of an isolated shower or t-storm from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday.

     Rain Amounts: 0.10 to 0.25 inches

      Low temp: 54 degrees Fahrenheit

      High temp: 75 degrees Fahrenheit

      Wind: Southeast at 8-13 mph with gusts to 20 mph

Monday: Mostly cloudy with a 60 percent chance of occasional showers and t-storms from 1 a.m. to 7 a.m. 40 percent chance of scattered showers and t-storms from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m.

     Rain Amounts: 0.25 to 0.50 inches

      Low temp: 60 degrees Fahrenheit

      High temp: 76 degrees Fahrenheit

      Wind: West at 6-13 mph, shifting NW by 12 p.m.

Your Week Ahead: Sept. 16 to Sept. 23

The most active period will be between Sept. 18 and Sept. 21 with several rounds of showers and t-storms becoming likely as the next system moves in from the west and southwest.

Temperature Trends: Temperatures will average a few degrees below normal
Precipitation Trends: Rain will average a little below normal

General Weather Discussion for the Week Ahead

An unseasonably cool airmass for this time of year has parked itself over the Upper Midwest with chilly temperatures along with some clouds coming in off the lake. Most weather stations across northeast Illinois dipped down between 38 and 44 (as of 7 a.m.), which is some 11 to 16 degrees below normal. Blame it on a large high pressure ridge, which covers the center of the country and also expands into southern Canada. This ridge will slowly move to the east and continue to bring a refreshing fall-like airmass through the entire weekend.

As the high moves east, weather conditions will begin to change again. Winds will shift more south and southeast and begin to bring in warmer air from the south and increase the amount of low-level moisture. This will cause a warm front to develop over the southern plains with scattered thunderstorms developing to our west by late Saturday and into early Sunday. A few of these storms, while in a weakening phase may find its way into northeast Illinois by Sunday evening.

As the front moves north and stalls, the risk of occasional showers and t-storms will increase Monday through Wednesday with perhaps less coverage on Tuesday as rain shifts east and west of the local area. While severe weather is not expected during this time, there may be some heavy downpours, small hail and gusty winds in the stronger t-storm cells.

By the end of next week, weather conditions will calm down for several days as another ridge of high pressure settles into the area. This may bring an extended period of sunny weather to finish out the month.

Even though temperatures will warm up early next week, temperatures may cool off a little by the middle and end of next week and may average a few degrees below normal. There are signs in the long-range forecast that temperatures may warm up again after Sept. 25 with daytime highs approaching the lower 80s and an increase in humidity.

Your Weekly Weather Fact: The average date of our first freeze is typically around Oct. 13.