Chicagoland to Face Weather Changes and Cherry Blossom Bloom

CHICAGO – Chicagoland kicked off the week with mild temperatures and strong winds on Monday, but changes are on the way, including a cooler Tuesday and the potential for strong storms by the end of the week.

Despite a cold front passing through, the area experienced afternoon highs in the low to mid-60s. Westerly winds gusting over 30 mph are expected to continue into the evening, gradually shifting from the west-northwest.

Overnight conditions will see an increase in cloud cover with a chance for spotty rain showers. Tuesday morning temperatures are forecasted to drop to around 40 degrees, bringing a noticeable chill. Afternoon highs on Tuesday are anticipated to reach near 50 degrees alongside partly sunny to mostly cloudy skies, with occasional sprinkles throughout the day.

Looking ahead, sunshine is expected to return on Wednesday, with highs in the mid-50s. However, rain chances are anticipated to reappear on Thursday as warmer air pushes into the region, elevating temperatures back into the mid-60s.

Friday stands out as the week’s most active weather day, where temperatures may climb into the upper 70s ahead of a strong storm system that poses the risk of strong to severe thunderstorms. While uncertainty remains regarding the timing and severity of these storms, Friday night’s weather will be a key point of attention.

The weekend appears to bring a cool down, with Saturday and Sunday mostly cloudy and highs around 60 degrees. A few showers are also possible on Sunday.

FOX 32’s Emily Wahls reported on this weather update.

In further news, cherry blossoms are making a vibrant return to Chicago’s Jackson Park, blooming just in time for spring. The roughly 190 cherry trees around the Columbia Basin, planted in 2013 to commemorate the 120th anniversary of the World’s Columbian Exposition, began blooming recently and are expected to remain in full display for approximately two weeks.

“This is fast becoming one of the busiest moments of the year for the entire park,” said Eric Rogers, treasurer of the Jackson Park Advisory Council. “It’s really a big draw to Jackson Park for the entire region, and we love to see people coming to the area to enjoy it.”

Visitors, such as Jeremy Gumkowski, who came with his fiancée, expressed excitement about finally witnessing the blossoms after missing previous seasons. He noted the fleeting beauty of the trees, saying, “I think they’re beautiful, and part of the beauty is they’re only here for so long.”

Jacob Burns, curator of living collections at the Chicago Botanic Garden, commented on the significance of the cherry trees, emphasizing the change of seasons. “People in Chicago get very tired of winter, and they are just looking for some fun color,” he said.

In other news, a shooting occurred on Chicago’s North Side near Loyola University early Sunday morning. Officers responded around 2 a.m. to the 1200 block of West Devon Avenue and found two men shot. A 31-year-old man was struck in the abdomen while a 29-year-old man sustained gunshot wounds to his hip and torso. Both were transported to St. Francis Hospital, where they were reported in good and fair condition, respectively. Area detectives are actively investigating the incident, and no arrests have been made.