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Just 3 Days After Heat Wave, Mercury May Not Crack 50

CHICAGO (CBS) -- It was only this past Sunday – a mere four days ago – that the temperature hit 97 degrees, but it all feels like a few months ago now as Chicago sits shivering in slippers and sweatshirts this Thursday.

Even three days ago on Monday, the temperature hit 95 degrees for the hottest Memorial Day ever. But as of 11:20 a.m. Thursday, it was only 48 degrees at O'Hare International Airport.

The warmest temperature in the area was seen fairly far from Chicago proper. It was 57 degrees in Valparaiso.

A high pressure system is dragging down a wave of cool air from Canada.

The high for the Chicago Thursday is expected to reach only 51. But CBS 2 Meteorologist Mary Kay Kleist says some areas might even remain in the 40s all day.

Meanwhile, as fireplaces roar and plastic sheets are placed over air conditioners that were hastily installed in many a window this past weekend, the entire Chicago area can expect some fairly heavy rain as the day goes on.

As of 11:20 a.m., only drizzle was affecting the city. But rainfall will pick up later in the afternoon, and could top out at about an inch before the system moves out early Friday.

There is a warm front lying at the edge of the system that is producing the rain. But it is of no good to the Chicago area. The warm front is well to the south, and will stay there as Chicagoans wrap themselves in wool blankets and drink hot herb tea.

The high will rise to 63 on Friday, and skies should clear later in the day. On Saturday, the high climbs to 74, with a 30 percent chance of a pop-up thunderstorm in the afternoon.

The high for Sunday is 78, Monday 79 with a chance of thunderstorms, Tuesday 77, and Wednesday 70.

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