Record Warmth for Chicago Area

The record at O'Hare for February 28 was 61 degrees, set over 100 years ago in 1895

The Chicago area saw record-breaking warm temperatures Sunday, with highs above 60 degrees.

The record at O'Hare for February 28 was 61 degrees, set over 100 years ago in 1895. However, by just after 1 p.m., the temperature at O'Hare on Sunday was 62 degrees, breaking the 121-year-old record. 

Rockford also saw record high temperatures, reaching 58 degrees at 10:08 a.m. The previous record was 56 degrees set back in 1932. 

The NWS warned that winds could be strong and potentially damaging, and will make for difficult travel. Particularly in areas south of I-90, drivers should exercise caution, especially for larger high profile vehicles.

A Wind Advisory in effect for Kane, DuPage Cook, LaSalle, Kendall, Grundy, Will, Kankakee, Livingtson, Iroquois, Ford, as well as Lake, Porter, Newton, Jasper, and Benton counties in Indiana expired at 3:15 p.m. However, winds could still gust up to 40 mph at times into the evening.

Just one week ago, similar conditions of strong winds and high temperatures swept through the area, leaving 191,000 people without power, prompting hundreds of flight cancellations, delaying train travel as several tracks were damaged, and causing evacuations of at least three buildings in the Loop. 

Chicago Samaritans, including our own Byron Miranda, jumped to the aid of a woman nearly being blown away in the dangerous winds tearing through the city Friday afternoon.

Cloud cover will also continue to increase throughout the day Sunday, with rain possible in the second half of the day.

For the week ahead, temperatures are expected to drop back to normal levels (in the 40s) by Monday, with rain Monday night turning to snow by Tuesday morning with temperatures in the low 30s.

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