Warmup As First Day Of Spring Approaches: Illinois Weather

Temps will be in the 40s this week but will begin to warm up as the first day of spring approaches on March 20. Highs on both Monday and Tuesday will be in the 40s, at 45 and 49 degrees respectively, according to the National Weather Service. We will break 50 degrees on Wednesday, although there is a chance of rain starting early Wednesday and ending in the early afternoon.

Thursday will continue to be mild, and the high for the day is 52 degrees, the NWS said. Friday will be much of the same, with a high of 53 degrees. Besides the possible rain on Wednesday, the work week will be sunny and dry.

Here is a more detailed look at your weather this week:

• MONDAY: Partly sunny, with a high near 42. West northwest wind around 5 mph.
• MONDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy, with a low around 27. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
• TUESDAY: Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. South southwest wind around 5 mph, with gusts as high as 10 mph.
• TUESDAY NIGHT: A 40 percent chance of rain after 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34.
• WEDNESDAY: A 30 percent chance of rain before 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 50.
• WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33.
• THURSDAY: Sunny, with a high near 50.
• THURSDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear, with a low around 32.
• FRIDAY: Sunny, with a high near 53.
• FRIDAY NIGHT: Clear, with a low around 34.