Warm, breezy weather predicted across Chicago area Monday, Tuesday

Sunny, breezy weather is predicted across the Chicago area Monday, with temperatures creeping into the low 70s Tuesday.

Predicted highs Monday range from 61 to 68, with winds gusting 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

“The normal high today is about 45, so we’ll be about 20 degrees above,” meteorologist Mike Bardou said.

The dry and windy conditions have posed an elevated fire danger in open areas. People should exercise extreme caution with smoking materials outside, the weather service said.

“With it getting warmer, it’s gonna be a pretty dry air mass,” Bardou said. “We think that the threat is lower on the scale, but it’s a day to be very careful if you have to burn anything.”

High temperatures are expected to reach 67 to 71 degrees Tuesday with partly cloudy skies. The warm weather will be relatively uniform across the Chicago area.

Just after sunset, there’s a chance of scattered thunderstorms and showers, according to Bardou.

“We’re not expecting much with that,” Bardou said. “But there could be some rumbles of thunder in there, so maybe a little lightning too.”

The balmy weather will cool Wednesday into the rest of the week, with temperatures dropping into the 50s and 60s. Areas directly along the lakefront will be even cooler, hitting the mid 40s.

Intermittent thunderstorms and showers are also anticipated beginning early afternoon Wednesday.

“A couple warm days, and then we’re going to be back closer to where we typically are this time of year, from pretty much Wednesday onward,” Bardou said.