6 Weather

  Chicago woke to a sky that was neither fully light nor fully dark, a muted gray that seemed to stretch endlessly over Lake Michigan. The air was sharp, carrying with it the bite of a late spring morning that hadn’t yet decided to embrace warmth. The temperature hovered at 48°F (9°C), with a forecasted high of 58°F (14°C) and a low of 42°F (6°C) by nightfall. The wind, as always in Chicago, was the star of the show—gusts of up to 20 mph swept through the city, tugging at coats and scarves and sending loose papers skittering down the sidewalks. The weather app had warned of scattered showers, but for now, the city was dry, the clouds hanging low and heavy, as if holding their breath. In the Loop, the city’s downtown core, the streets were already alive with the rhythm of morning commuters. The wind funneled between the skyscrapers, creating miniature whirlwinds that sent coffee cups skidding across the pavement. At Millennium Park, the Bean—officially known as Cloud Gate—reflected ...