Weekend Warmup Is Chicago’s First Dose of False Spring

Patty Wetli | February 13, 2026, 9:40 am

(Pexels)

After an extended arctic blast, Chicagoans will enjoy a taste of “false spring,” with above normal temperatures forecast for Valentine’s weekend and beyond.

The National Weather Service is predicting highs in the 50s for the Chicago region through early next week. Some areas may even hit 60 degrees, with the usual caveat of “cooler by the lake."

(National Weather Service)

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The warmup is quite the reversal from the nearly three-week-long streak of below-freezing temperatures that gripped the region from mid-January to early February.

While these mild temps may feel like a heat wave compared with recent sub-zero conditions, there’s no danger of any records falling. February 2017 will be a tough one to beat, with its string of highs in the upper 60s and low 70s.

Don’t get too comfortable. Per a popular online meme, a crash back to reality is coming. There’s still “second winter,” “spring of deception,” “third winter” and “mud season” to slog through before actual spring arrives.