After temperatures warmed well into the 60s across the Chicago area Tuesday, melting all the snow that was run off the frozen soil by heavy 2- to 6-inch-plus rains, rivers and streams area-wide quickly rose out of their banks. Areas south of Chicago were hardest hit with widespread 4- to 6-inch rainfall totals, and many rivers there were in major flood Wednesday and expected to remain in flood well into next week.

A little light rain could occur here late Thursday night and again much of Saturday, but not enough to add any significant run-off into rivers and streams. After readings in the 30s on Thursday, temperatures should adjust upward in the days ahead, running some 6 to 8 degrees above normal.