After Record Cold, Weekend Thaw Should Put A Spring In Chicago's Step
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Our clocks won't be the only things springing forward this weekend. After setting a new record for cold overnight, temperatures will gradually return to normal for this time of year over the weekend, ahead of even milder conditions in the middle of next week.
Friday morning started with arctic conditions in Chicago, as the city set a new record low for March 6, hitting zero degrees at O'Hare International Airport, according to the National Weather Service. That broke the old March 6 record low of 2 degrees, set in 1960.
However, once the mercury gets into the upper 20s early Friday afternoon, frigid temperatures should become a thing of the past.
By this time next week, temperatures will be 35 to 40 degrees warmer, and temperatures shouldn't drop below about 25 degrees again over the next seven days after Friday night.
On Saturday and Sunday, temperatures will be in the 30s and 40s all day, which is normal for early March.
By Tuesday, highs will hit the low 50s, and on Wednesday, the high in Chicago should be about 55 degrees, while some suburbs could see temperatures in the 60s – well above the normal high of 45 for the second week of March.
No rain or snow is expected over the next seven days either, which should mean little chance of any flooding problems from all the melting snow.
The warmup will be a welcome relief for Chicago area residents, after suffering through a February that tied for coldest on record in Chicago, matching 1875's average February temperature of 14.6 degrees.
By the way, just a reminder, Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 a.m. Sunday, so you'll need to set your clocks forward an hour before you go to sleep Saturday night.
