Rain Ahead, Snow Possible After Brief Warm-Up: IL Weather

CHICAGO ­­­— For Chicago-area residents who hoped that a recent flirtation with springtime temperatures would give way to a steady dose of comfortable weather, the unpredictability of March has again provided a cold dose of reality.

After a cold weekend in which snow made an occasional appearance, the region is in for a mixed bag of weather this week, including a stretch of cold temperatures, the National Weather Service said. Temperatures will climb to the mid-60s by Wednesday, but the days before and immediately after that will feel more like winter than the final days leading up to April.

Forecasters predict that temperatures will remain in the low to mid-30s to start the workweek, with temperatures dropping back into the 20s in the overnight hours. The winds are expected to pick up Tuesday as temperatures gradually start to climb toward the 40s and some thunderstorms move into the region Tuesday night, leading into what will be the warmest day of the week by far.

On Wednesday, the rain is expected to stick around throughout the day with breezy conditions remaining. Temperatures should surge into the mid-to-upper 60s for much of the area for the day, the National Weather Service said. The warmer air will make the chance of thunderstorms Wednesday and Wednesday evening possible before the temperature drops again Thursday.

Precipitation will extend into Thursday as the air cools off again and brings the threat of a blustery winter mix, with temperatures hovering only in the mid-30s. There is a chance of snow flurries on Thursday afternoon and evening — the final day of the month.

The start of April arrives Friday with the sun returning to end the workweek and kick off the weekend. However, temperatures will struggle to get beyond the mid-40s as unseasonably cold weather hangs around for the start of the new month.