Chicago weather: City, suburbs get warm welcome to April

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago's warm welcome to April was no joke, but don't be fooled by the sunshine. Temperatures are forecast to plummet by the end of the week, and the area could even see a few snowflakes.

ABC7 meteorologist Cheryl Scott said most of the Chicago area warmed into the mid-70s on Wednesday, which is about 20 degrees above average.

The mild weather will stick around through Thursday, but scattered showers and storms are expected to move in overnight tonight.

"For your morning commute, you could be running into some heavy rain, even a few rumbles of thunder," Scott said.

But even if it's only a taste of what's to come, the sunshine brought out the smiles at Chicago's lakefront.

"Well, if the ice were out here, we would be talking a different story. But from what we can tell today, it is 66 degrees and we expect a great boating season ahead," said Sean Owen, Skipperbuds' Yacht Sales.

Owen and Bob Godek, of Chicago Yacht Works, are testing a 39-foot boat for their prospective customer and rely on the sunshine to get people to think about what's ahead.

When asked about cooler weather in the forecast, Godek said, "That's an ongoing battle here in the Midwest. You can get it all the time."

It's the same for people who seek to greet the sunshine with the appropriate attire. Macy's professional personal shopper Courtney Pohlman has been waiting for the days to brighten.

"Our weather is completely unpredictable, so you want to stay on trend but you have to be practical," Pohlman said.

For Chicagoans, the turn of the calendar to April has been much anticipated. Dining al fresco and just soaking in the feeling that one doesn't have to run inside right away feels like a luxury.

But don't put away that winter jacket just yet. By Friday, high temperatures will struggle to reach the mid-40s and snowflakes may mix in with showers, especially south of the city.