Temperatures will remain above normal for the next several days until a blast of arctic air arrives on Christmas Eve, bringing significantly colder temperatures. Until Thursday, high temperatures will be near to above 40, five or more degrees above normal each day. Rain will be a possibility during the day on Saturday, possibly mixing with some flurries late.

The current forecast calls for little or no snow accumulation, increasing the snow deficit for the snow season. Locations affected by heavy snow in the northeast saw snowfall totals from one storm that exceeded Chicago’s annual average snowfall of 36.3 inches.

Thursday was another day with complete cloud cover for Chicago, lowering the monthly percent of possible sunshine to 43%, just above the normal of 41% for December.