Chicago weather: Near record-setting highs expected today

CHICAGO - The record high today is 83 degrees set in 1963. It’s going to be close.  

I’ll stick with my 80-degree forecast. Skies will be mostly sunny until late in the day when clouds will encroach from the southwest.  Winds will be gusty reaching 35 mph at times this afternoon. Batten down the ghosts and skeletons in the yard.  

Showers hold off until after dark and for much of the area closer to midnight. Showers will continue into the morning commute on Wednesday then exit, leaving the rest of the day dry under partly to mostly cloudy skies. Highs will be around 70 degrees.  

Thursday and Friday will feature daily chances for showers but enough sun to drive highs back into the low to mid 70s. Saturday still looks warmer than normal with most computer modeling currently advertising highs well into the 60s.  

The cooldown begins Sunday with highs dropping into the mid 50s. Showers are loikely at times both days this weekend. The real chilly stuff arrives next week when highs will struggle to rise much into the 40s for several days.