Monday forecast: Another warm December day in Chicagoland, but Arctic chill coming later this week

It’s going to be a warm December day to start the work week in Chicagoland.

Enjoy it while you can, because Arctic chill is coming back later this week.

It’s the opposite early Monday morning, with temperatures already in the mid- to upper 40s before sunrise. For context, the normal low for that time of day on Dec. 9 is about 26, so we’re running more than 20 degrees above normal as Monday commuters hit the roads.

Monday highs will then reach the low 50s. It’ll also remain mostly cloudy around Chicagoland, with some possible peeks of sunshine in the morning.

Temps return closer to normal for early December on Tuesday and Wednesday, then the real cold air settles in overnight Wednesday into Thursday morning. By the Thursday morning commute, air temps are projected to be in the single digits, with wind chills dipping to around minus-20 in some locations.

Temps will rebound for the weekend, reaching near 40 again by Saturday and Sunday in the early weekend forecast, with a possible wintry mix projected for Friday into Saturday.

Forecast

TODAY: Mostly cloudy, winds W at 10-15 mph, gusts to 20. High 51.

TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy, winds NW at 5-10 mph, gusts to 15. Low 30.

TOMORROW: Mostly cloudy, winds WNW at 5-10 mph, gusts to 15. High 33.