Chicago heads toward sunny skies and 70-degree afternoons this week

A warming trend will give Chicago residents more opportunities to enjoy time outside as the weekend ends and the workweek begins. The NBC 5 Storm Team forecasts plenty of sunshine and no rain in its extended outlook for the upcoming workweek, with afternoon readings eventually reaching the low 70s.

Sunday marks the start of the change after several days with temperatures in the low 50s. Forecast models show temperatures rising quickly after sunrise. Much of the Chicago area is expected to reach the low 60s, although western suburbs are forecast to stay somewhat cooler, with highs in the upper 50s.

The warmer afternoon will still be followed by a chilly night. Overnight lows are expected to fall into the upper 30s across most of the area before temperatures rebound Monday. That difference between morning and afternoon conditions is worth keeping in mind when choosing layers for a commute or an outdoor outing.

Monday’s highs are forecast to reach the middle to upper 60s across the region. The climb continues Tuesday and Wednesday, with readings expected to reach the low 70s for the remainder of the workweek. Forecasters say that warmth could potentially last into the following weekend, though that remains part of the longer-range outlook.

For residents planning walks, park visits or other outdoor activities, the combination of sunshine and a rain-free workweek forecast offers a useful planning window. The outlook calls for warmer-than-normal temperatures rather than a return to the low-50s afternoons of the preceding days.

The forecast also includes comfortable conditions along Chicago’s lakefront when the Bears play the New England Patriots on Thursday evening. Daytime highs are expected to be in the 70s, with temperatures gradually settling into the 60s around kickoff, according to the NBC 5 Storm Team.