Fire Danger Monday, Rain Chances Later This Week For Chicago Area

Seasonable temperatures, with mostly dry conditions, are expected most of the week for the Chicago area. However, the National Weather Service said there is an elevated fire danger on Monday due to the winds and dry vegetation.

"Northwest winds gusting up to 30 mph combined with low relative humidities will result in elevated fire weather conditions [Monday afternoon]," according to the weather service.

The high for Monday is 61 degrees, 64 on Tuesday, 67 on Wednesday, 62 on Thursday and 65 on Friday. Breezy conditions will continue through Wednesday, according to the current forecast.

"[The] next opportunity for rain arrives Thursday night into Friday morning," the weather service said.

Now that we're in November, many Chicago area residents may also be wondering when we will see the first snowflakes fall. There doesn't seem to be any chance of snow in this week's forecast, but we do typically see the first "measurable" snowfall in Chicago in November.

The normal first date for a "trace" or more of snow is Oct. 31, and the normal first date for "measurable" snow (.1 inches or more) is Nov. 18.

Here is the local forecast:

MONDAY: A chance of sprinkles before 9 a.m. Sunny, with a high near 60. West northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

MONDAY NIGHT: Increasing clouds, with a low around 37. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light southwest after midnight.

TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 61. Light south southwest wind becoming south 10 to 15 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.

TUESDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear, with a low around 50. South wind 10 to 15 mph becoming west southwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.

WEDNESDAY: Sunny, with a high near 62. West southwest wind 10 to 15 mph becoming north northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear, with a low around 36.

THURSDAY: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58.

THURSDAY NIGHT: Rain likely after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49.

FRIDAY: A chance of rain before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 61.

FRIDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37.