Chicago's mild fall continues this week, as above-normal temperatures linger. Averaging nearly 13 degrees above normal, afternoon highs are expected to approach or exceed 60 degrees Sunday through Friday as strong southerly winds push mild air into the Midwest on the warm eastern flank of a strengthening storm at a time of year when typical highs should cluster in the middle and upper 40s.

Showers and a few thunderstorms are forecast to spread over our area in advance of a strong cold front Friday.

Then Saturday, the storm low-pressure center is expected to intensify north of the Great Lakes. As daytime readings fall into the 30s, scattered showers are likely to bring the season's first snowflakes — about three weeks later than the typical arrival around Halloween.