Fall has started cool and occasionally rainy in the Chicago area, but what do the forecasts say for the coming season?

According to the first extended outlook, effective the first week of October, forecasters are trending “up” on temperatures for Illinois and northern Indiana between October 1 and October 5:

There is more confidence in the second week of October, as forecasters say temperatures in Illinois and northern Indiana will be “likely above normal”:

In the third week of October, confidence drops slightly and meteorologists are once again leaning towards above-average temperatures:

To put things in context, average temperatures in the city of Chicago are typically above 60 degrees in early October, but by the end of the month the city's average high temperature is just 56 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

In fact, the normal first day the city sees the first trace of snow is October 31st. By November 18, the city has typically seen the first measurable snowfall of the season, defined as 0.1 or more inches, and by December 18, 7 the city has typically seen the first snowfall of an inch or more.

Meteorologists also expect the region to see below-average precipitation early in the month, but indicated they suspect Illinois and Indiana could see at least some relief from the droughts that have afflicted the region.

Chicago typically receives about 3.4 inches of rain in October, according to NWS data.

As far as current forecast models are concerned, highs are expected to drop after a low pressure system moves through the Chicago area this weekend, although highs in the upper 60s are still expected under partly to mostly sunny skies.

Stay tuned with the NBC 5 Storm Team for the latest weather news and information.