Cold front moves into Chicago area, bringing high winds, rain and choppy waves

Chicago will be feeling the effects of a cold front for the next few days, National Weather Service officials say.

The city will see lows dip into the low 40s with highs in the mid 60s until at least Thursday, when temperatures will start to pick up again, according to NWS forecaster Lee Carlaw. Monday will see temperatures up to 66 and as low as 44; Tuesday's high will be 52 and the low 41.

Areas outside the city, specifically northwest Illinois, could see temperatures in the high 30s and may experience the first frost of the season.

This will come with some lake effect rain Sunday and Monday nights into the morning — with the potential for “brief heavy rain,” Carlaw said — as well as periodic gusts of wind up to 45 mph through the day Monday.

“The storm threat isn’t overly high,” Carlaw said.

These winds are also going to create dangerous swimming conditions, with waves on northwest Indiana shores expected to reach up to 14 feet. Chicago’s shore will see waves closer to 11 feet before they fall off to 5 feet Monday night.

The conditions could also be ripe for the creation of waterspouts due to lots of wind shear, which may be a cool visual spectacle but pose little danger to those on land, Carlaw said.

“Those generally don’t pose a risk of moving to shore, but it’s something we keep an eye on,” Carlaw said.