Week opens mild, but changes may be on way

Though the Chicago area was only brushed by a major snowstorm over the weekend, the city did receive its heaviest snowfall since late November. Officially, 2.5 inches fell at O’Hare International Airport, while the total at Midway reached 3.7 inches. High pressure will build across the region Monday, bringing sunshine and light winds.

Temperatures are expected to break above freezing for the first time in five days. Brief intrusions of polar air will be modest and brief through the workweek, with temperatures forecast to average nearly 7 degrees above normal through Friday. Mediumrange forecasts covering the period from Saturday into next week agree in developing a much more potent influx of cold air, perhaps featuring the lowest temperatures of the winter thus far.