Record High Temps End With Cold Front, Rainy Weekend In IL

ILLINOIS — December is usually known for snowstorms and ice, but that hasn't been the case this year for Illinois. Christmas Day felt more like March, and the warm temperatures Thursday have already broken records.

The National Weather Service said the record Chicago high was broken at 12:01 a.m. Thursday. It was 56 degrees at midnight, while the average high for this time of year is 32 degrees.

Thursday has a high of 66 degrees, and temps will then drop back close to normal Friday with a high around 40. A cold front moving in Thursday evening could mean a quick drop in temperature during the evening commute.

However, temperatures will again be mild this weekend, according to the weather service.

Rain is expected Saturday, Saturday night and Sunday during the day. The high for Saturday and Sunday is expected to be 58 degrees.

The warmer temperatures will move out Sunday night, when there is a chance of rain and snow showers.

Here's a look at the forecast through the weekend:

THURSDAY NIGHT: Cloudy, with a low around 32. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 39. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

FRIDAY NIGHT: A 20 percent chance of showers after 3 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Calm wind becoming east southeast around 5 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 10 mph.

SATURDAY: Showers likely, mainly after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 55. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

SATURDAY NIGHT: Rain. Low around 50. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent.

SUNDAY: Rain likely before noon, then a chance of showers after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

SUNDAY NIGHT: A chance of rain showers before 3 a.m., a slight chance of rain and snow showers between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m., then a slight chance of snow showers after 4 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29.