Current weather · Sep 26, 10:49 PM CDT

41.8790, -87.6360

59°

Partly CloudyFeels like 59° · Humidity 71%NWS forecast for this hour; no recent station reportForecast by NWS Chicago, IL · grid 75,73
High
66°
Low
56°
Rain today
0%
Sunrise
6:42 AM
Sunset
6:41 PM

Hour by hour

NWS forecast grid

Scroll sideways for more hours. Pick an hour for every number.

Every hour as a table48 hours
TimeWeatherTemperatureFeels likeDew pointHumidityChanceAmountSnowDirWindGustSky coverThunderPressureVisibilityCeiling
Sat 10 PM59°59°50°71%0%E7 mph8 mph35%——
Sat 11 PM59°59°50°72%0%E7 mph8 mph34%——
Sun 12 AM59°59°51°74%0%E6 mph7 mph29%——
Sun 1 AM59°59°51°75%0%ENE5 mph7 mph28%——
Sun 2 AM58°58°51°76%0%E5 mph6 mph26%——
Sun 3 AM58°58°50°77%0%ENE5 mph5 mph35%——
Sun 4 AM58°58°50°75%1%ENE3 mph5 mph41%——
Sun 5 AM56°57°50°78%1%ENE3 mph5 mph42%——
Sun 6 AM56°56°50°80%1%ENE3 mph3 mph49%——
Sun 7 AM56°56°50°81%1%NNE3 mph3 mph49%——
Sun 8 AM56°57°51°82%0%N2 mph3 mph49%——
Sun 9 AM59°59°53°80%0%NNW3 mph3 mph36%——
Sun 10 AM63°63°53°71%0%N3 mph5 mph38%——
Sun 11 AM64°64°53°67%0%NNE5 mph5 mph40%——
Sun 12 PM65°65°53°64%0%NE6 mph6 mph33%——
Sun 1 PM66°66°53°63%0%NE6 mph8 mph33%——
Sun 2 PM66°66°53°64%0%NNE7 mph8 mph29%——
Sun 3 PM66°66°54°65%0%NNE7 mph9 mph26%——
Sun 4 PM65°65°53°65%0%NNE8 mph10 mph32%——
Sun 5 PM64°64°54°70%0%NNE8 mph10 mph33%——
Sun 6 PM63°63°54°74%0%NNE7 mph9 mph36%——
Sun 7 PM61°61°54°79%0%NNE7 mph9 mph42%——
Sun 8 PM60°60°54°82%0%N7 mph8 mph46%——
Sun 9 PM60°60°54°83%0%N7 mph8 mph49%——
Sun 10 PM59°59°54°84%0%N7 mph8 mph48%——
Sun 11 PM58°59°54°86%0%N7 mph8 mph48%——
Mon 12 AM58°58°54°87%0%N7 mph8 mph44%——
Mon 1 AM58°58°54°88%0%N6 mph8 mph37%——
Mon 2 AM57°57°54°89%0%N6 mph8 mph38%——
Mon 3 AM56°56°53°90%0%NNW6 mph8 mph40%——
Mon 4 AM56°56°53°91%0%NNW6 mph8 mph36%——
Mon 5 AM55°55°53°92%0%NNW6 mph8 mph41%——
Mon 6 AM55°55°54°96%0%NNW6 mph8 mph40%——
Mon 7 AM57°57°55°91%0%NNW6 mph7 mph44%——
Mon 8 AM59°59°56°90%0%NNW5 mph7 mph49%——
Mon 9 AM62°62°58°86%0%N5 mph7 mph54%——
Mon 10 AM65°65°58°80%0%N5 mph6 mph27%——
Mon 11 AM67°67°59°76%0%N5 mph6 mph24%——
Mon 12 PM68°68°59°73%0%NNE5 mph6 mph21%——
Mon 1 PM68°68°58°71%0%NNE5 mph6 mph18%——
Mon 2 PM69°69°58°69%0%NE5 mph7 mph16%——
Mon 3 PM68°69°58°68%0%NE6 mph7 mph14%——
Mon 4 PM68°68°57°69%0%NE6 mph7 mph12%——
Mon 5 PM66°66°57°72%0%NE6 mph6 mph12%——
Mon 6 PM65°65°57°76%0%NE5 mph6 mph13%——
Mon 7 PM63°63°57°80%0%NE5 mph6 mph13%——
Mon 8 PM62°62°57°82%0%ENE5 mph6 mph14%——
Mon 9 PM62°62°57°84%0%E5 mph6 mph15%——

The next 16 days

NWS grid published Sep 26, 9:51 PM CDT to day 8, the National Blend of Models to day 11, the mean of GFS, ECMWF, ECMWF AI to day 16
  1. TodaySep 2666°56°Partly Cloudy0%wind 7 mph
  2. SunSep 2766°55°Mostly Sunny1%wind 8 mph
  3. MonSep 2869°57°Mostly Sunny0%wind 7 mph
  4. TueSep 2972°63°Mostly Sunny15%wind 7 mph
  5. WedSep 3070°64°Chance Rain Showers52%wind 8 mph · gusts 14 mph
  6. ThuOct 170°60°Rain Showers Likely69%wind 8 mph · gusts 14 mph
  7. FriOct 266°58°Chance Rain Showers46%wind 9 mph · gusts 15 mph
  8. SatOct 365°57°Slight Chance Rain Showers25%wind 8 mph
  9. SunOct 463°53°National Blend17%wind 9 mph
  10. MonOct 560°52°National Blend18%wind 9 mph
  11. TueOct 662°53°National Blend14%wind 8 mph
  12. WedOct 7~69°52°Model mean
  13. ThuOct 8~65°55°Model mean
  14. FriOct 9~64°51°Model mean
  15. SatOct 10~66°54°Model mean0.02 in
  16. SunOct 11~66°52°Model mean

Right now

NWS grid for this hour · UV from the EPA · air quality from AirNow
  • Feels like59°
  • WindE 7 mph
  • Radar over this pointno reading
  • Humidity71%
  • Dew point50°
  • Pressure—
  • UV index—
  • Air quality—
  • Visibility—
  • Sunrise and sunsetSunrise · Sunset · set
  • Moonrise6:29 PMMoonset 6:37 AM
  • Moon phaseFull moon100% lit

The National Blend of Models

NOAA NBM v5.0 · run of Sep 26, 7:00 PM CDT

NOAA’s weighted blend of every model it runs, to eleven days, with the chances the grid above does not carry. Where the local office’s grid reaches, its figure sits beneath the blend’s; where it does not, the blend stands alone.

  1. TodaySep 26—55°NWS grid 66° / 56°rain 0%wind 5 mph
  2. SunSep 2766°57°NWS grid 66° / 55°rain 0%wind 7 mph
  3. MonSep 2869°56°NWS grid 69° / 57°rain 0%wind 5 mph
  4. TueSep 2972°63°NWS grid 72° / 63°rain 42%thunder 11%wind 7 mph
  5. WedSep 3071°63°NWS grid 70° / 64°rain 57%thunder 22%0.22 inwind 8 mph · gusts 14 mph
  6. ThuOct 170°59°NWS grid 70° / 60°rain 69%thunder 14%0.62 inwind 8 mph
  7. FriOct 265°57°NWS grid 66° / 58°rain 42%0.69 inwind 8 mph
  8. SatOct 363°56°NWS grid 65° / 57°rain 29%thunder 12%0.39 inwind 8 mph · gusts 14 mph
  9. SunOct 463°53°Beyond the NWS gridrain 17%wind 9 mph
  10. MonOct 560°52°Beyond the NWS gridrain 18%wind 9 mph
  11. TueOct 662°53°Beyond the NWS gridrain 14%wind 8 mph
  12. WedOct 763°—Beyond the NWS gridrain 12%wind 8 mph
50°64°77°SunMonTueWedThuFriSat

BlendNWS gridChance of rain, hourly

The models, side by side

HRRR Sep 26, 7:00 PM CDT · GFS Sep 26, 1:00 PM CDT · GEFS Sep 26, 1:00 PM CDT · ECMWF Sep 26, 7:00 AM CDT · ECMWF AI Sep 26, 7:00 AM CDT

Each line is one model’s own forecast at its own grid cell: three kilometers for HRRR, a quarter of a degree for the global models, which can sit a few hundred meters above or below the town. Where they agree the forecast is settled; where they part is where it is not.

50°68°86°SunMonTueWedThuFriSat

DayNWS gridHRRRGFSGEFSECMWFECMWF AI
Today Sep 2666° 56°~58° 57°~67° 60°~66° 62°64° 55°~66° 54°
Sun Sep 2766° 55°67° 54°69° 57°69° 59°67° 52°~69° 52°
Mon Sep 2869° 57°68° 53°72° 57°71° 59°68° 56°~71° 56°
Tue Sep 2972° 63°—78° 60°75° 61°73° 56°~72° 54°
Wed Sep 3070° 64°—72° 65°0.26 in73° 67°0.11 in69° 61°0.76 in~72° 64°0.04 in
Thu Oct 170° 60°—67° 64°0.54 in71° 66°0.41 in74° 65°0.25 in~71° 67°0.33 in
Fri Oct 266° 58°—63° 55°0.84 in66° 62°0.23 in~65° 58°0.31 in~66° 60°
Sat Oct 365° 57°—67° 56°0.82 in67° 61°0.08 in~62° 58°0.04 in~63° 55°0.05 in
Sun Oct 4——63° 51°0.30 in65° 60°0.05 in~62° 57°0.22 in~62° 56°0.23 in
Mon Oct 5——55° 43°59° 55°0.07 in~62° 55°~64° 56°0.01 in
Tue Oct 6——64° 46°~58° 51°~60° 53°~65° 52°
Wed Oct 7——~73° 56°—~65° 48°~68° 51°
Thu Oct 8——~62° 54°—~67° 51°~66° 59°
Fri Oct 9——~56° 51°—~68° 52°~67° 49°
Sat Oct 10——~61° 51°—~65° 56°0.04 in~72° 54°
Sun Oct 11——~66° 52°—~61° 58°~63° 58°

A ~ marks a high or low read from six-hourly steps, which miss the true extreme by a degree or two.

ECMWF ensemble meteogram

ECMWF ensemble meteogram for this place: box plots of cloud cover, precipitation, wind speed and temperature from the 51 ensemble members for ten days.
Rendered by ECMWF from its 51-member ensemble, in metric units: each box spans the middle half of the members, the whiskers the rest, the line the control run. A forecast, not an observation. © ECMWF, CC BY 4.0.

The next 90 days

NOAA GHCN normals and records at Chicago (MDW) · Climate Prediction Center outlooks

No forecast has skill day by day past about two weeks, and this page does not print one. Where the models stop, the calendar takes over: the 1991 to 2020 normal for each date, the record high and low ever set on it, and where the Climate Prediction Center leans warm, cool, wet or dry over the coming weeks, the month and the season. A site that shows a high for a date three months out is showing you this normal with a wobble.

The forecast reaches Sun Oct 11, from the NWS grid, then the National Blend, then the mean of the global models. Beyond it the lines are the calendar.

Climate Prediction Center (CPC) temperature leanwarmer 33% · Oct 202640% chance above normal · Oct to Dec0°20°40°60°80°TodayOct 1Nov 1Dec 1

Forecast high and lowNormal high and lowRecord high and lowCPC leans warmer than normalCPC near normal or equal chances

Week ofNormalWarmest on recordColdest on recordTemperature leanPrecipitation lean
Sep 2670° / 52°93° (2017)32° (2003)no outlookno outlook
Oct 369° / 51°90° (2025)32° (2000)near normal most likely · days 6 to 10near normal most likely · days 6 to 10
Oct 1065° / 47°86° (2008)29° (2009)33% chance above normal · Oct 2026equal chances · Oct 2026
Oct 1762° / 45°85° (2016)28° (2018)33% chance above normal · Oct 2026equal chances · Oct 2026
Oct 2455° / 42°83° (2024)28° (1997)33% chance above normal · Oct 2026equal chances · Oct 2026
Oct 3155° / 40°77° (2016)23° (2006)40% chance above normal · Oct to Decequal chances · Oct to Dec
Nov 755° / 37°77° (2020)9° (2019)40% chance above normal · Oct to Decequal chances · Oct to Dec
Nov 1447° / 34°74° (2016)12° (2014)40% chance above normal · Oct to Decequal chances · Oct to Dec
Nov 2146° / 30°67° (2010)12° (2013)40% chance above normal · Oct to Decequal chances · Oct to Dec
Nov 2841° / 29°72° (2012)9° (2025)40% chance above normal · Oct to Decequal chances · Oct to Dec
Dec 537° / 25°68° (2001)-0° (2005)40% chance above normal · Oct to Decequal chances · Oct to Dec
Dec 1238° / 25°67° (2021)-5° (2016)40% chance above normal · Oct to Decequal chances · Oct to Dec
Dec 1935° / 24°61° (2015)-9° (2022)40% chance above normal · Oct to Decequal chances · Oct to Dec

Health and activities

Rules of thumb over the next 24 hours of forecast, the warnings in force, the station’s report, air quality and pollen

None of these is a measurement. Each is a rating of the forecast ahead, and of what is happening at the point right now, against what the activity or the ailment is known to mind, and each names the figure that decided it. An ailment or a pest is rated as a risk, low to extreme; an activity, a chore or a journey as a condition, poor to ideal.

The sun is down, so each rating says which span it is for: tomorrow’s daylight, tonight, or the next 24 hours.

Health

  • Arthritisnext 24 hLowsteady conditions
  • Sinus pressurenext 24 hLowsteady conditions
  • Common coldtomorrowLowmild
  • FlutomorrowLowmild
  • Migrainenext 24 hLowsteady conditions
  • Asthmanext 24 hLowclean air
  • Heat stresstomorrowLowmild
  • SunburntomorrowLowweak sun
  • Frostbitenext 24 hLowmild
  • SleepingtonightIdealcool, quiet night

Outdoors

  • RunningtomorrowIdealfine conditions
  • HikingtomorrowIdealfine conditions
  • BikingtomorrowIdealfine conditions
  • GolftomorrowIdealfine conditions
  • FishingtomorrowIdealfine conditions
  • Boating and paddlingtomorrowIdealfine conditions
  • Beach and pooltomorrowGoodcool
  • CampingtonightIdealfine conditions
  • StargazingtonightFairbright moon

Travel

  • Air travelnext 24 hIdealclear skies
  • Drivingnext 24 hIdealclear roads

Home and garden

  • Lawn mowingtomorrowIdealfine conditions
  • GardeningtomorrowIdealfine conditions
  • Outdoor entertainingtomorrowIdealfine conditions
  • Drying laundry outsidetomorrowVery goodhumid
  • Painting and outdoor projectstomorrowIdealfine conditions
  • FrosttonightLowmild

Pests

  • MosquitoestomorrowHighwarm
  • TickstomorrowHighwarm
  • Indoor pestsnext 24 hLowmild
  • Outdoor peststomorrowModeratewarm

Stargazing

Worked out from the NWS hourly forecast and the sun and moon

Tonight has no dark, clear hour without a bright moon in this forecast. Rated poor.

Night ofRatingDarkClear hoursClear and moonlessMoon litTransparency (est.)DewStrongest wind
SaturdayPoor8:14 PM to 5:10 AM0 of 9None100%7 mph
SundayPoor8:12 PM to 5:11 AM0 of 9None98%3 h7 mph
MondayFair8:10 PM to 5:12 AM4 of 9None93%Poor5 h5 mph
TuesdayPoor8:08 PM to 5:14 AM0 of 9None87%7 mph
WednesdayPoor8:06 PM to 5:15 AM0 of 9None79%5 mph
ThursdayPoor8:05 PM to 5:16 AM0 of 9None70%2 h8 mph
FridayPoor8:03 PM to 5:17 AM0 of 9None60%7 mph

Dark is the sun 18 degrees below the horizon; where it never gets that low, 12 degrees, marked nautical. Clear is sky cover of 20% or less. A bright moon is one above the horizon with a quarter or more of its disc lit. Transparency in the table is estimated from surface humidity (70% and 85% mark fair and poor) and visibility, since the forecast carries no haze or high cloud moisture. Seeing and transparency by hour, where shown, are Environment and Climate Change Canada’s astronomy forecast (regional model; seeing from cloud, wind shear, turbulence near the ground and the surface temperature trend; transparency from the moisture through the whole air column), under the Open Government Licence - Canada. Dew is the air within 2 °C of its dew point. Excellent is four or more clear moonless hours with good transparency; good is three; fair is one, or two clear hours.

Golden hour and blue hour

Computed from the sun and moon positions
DayBlue hour, morningGolden hour, morningGolden hour, eveningBlue hour, evening
Sat6:14 AM to 6:25 AM6:25 AM to 7:19 AM6:04 PM to 6:58 PM6:58 PM to 7:08 PM
Sun6:16 AM to 6:26 AM6:26 AM to 7:20 AM6:02 PM to 6:56 PM6:56 PM to 7:07 PM
Mon6:17 AM to 6:27 AM6:27 AM to 7:21 AM6:00 PM to 6:54 PM6:54 PM to 7:05 PM
Tue6:18 AM to 6:28 AM6:28 AM to 7:22 AM5:59 PM to 6:52 PM6:52 PM to 7:03 PM
Wed6:19 AM to 6:29 AM6:29 AM to 7:23 AM5:57 PM to 6:51 PM6:51 PM to 7:01 PM
Thu6:20 AM to 6:31 AM6:31 AM to 7:25 AM5:55 PM to 6:49 PM6:49 PM to 7:00 PM
Fri6:21 AM to 6:32 AM6:32 AM to 7:26 AM5:53 PM to 6:47 PM6:47 PM to 6:58 PM
NESWSRSSMRMS
  • SR Sunrise 6:42 AM, 91° E
  • SS Sunset 6:41 PM, 269° W
  • MR Moonrise 6:29 PM, 82° E
  • MS Moonset 6:37 AM, 274° W
  • Full moon, 100% lit

Golden hour is the sun between 6 degrees above the horizon and 4 degrees below it; blue hour is the sun between 4 and 6 degrees below. These are the definitions timeanddate.com and PhotoPills use. Directions are degrees clockwise from true north, where the sun’s upper edge and the moon’s center cross a flat horizon; hills and buildings change both. None means the sun does not reach that height on the day; all day means it stays inside the band.

Drone flying

NWS hourly forecast, SWPC Kp, FAA TFRs and 14 CFR Part 107

This hour: fly with caution (night: lighting and night training required (107.29)). Next good stretch: Sun 7 AM to 6 PM, 11 hours.

Today: civil twilight for Part 107 6:12 AM to sunrise 6:42 AM, and sunset 6:41 PM to 7:11 PM. Anti-collision lighting is required in those minutes and at night.

Sat
Sun12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM
Mon12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM

Good Caution No-fly

HourVerdictWind (mph)400 ft est. (mph)Gust (mph)RainVisibilityCloud allowsTempKpWhy
Sat 10 PMCaution717180%59°night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Sat 11 PMCaution717180%59°night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Sun 12 AMCaution623240%59°wind at 400 ft near or over your limit, gusts near or over your limit, night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Sun 1 AMCaution518210%59°wind at 400 ft near or over your limit, gusts near or over your limit, night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Sun 2 AMCaution518190%58°wind at 400 ft near or over your limit, gusts near or over your limit, night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Sun 3 AMCaution518180%58°wind at 400 ft near or over your limit, gusts near or over your limit, night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Sun 4 AMCaution314151%58°night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Sun 5 AMCaution314151%56°night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Sun 6 AMCaution314141%56°night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Sun 7 AMGood3441%56°nothing against it
Sun 8 AMGood2340%56°nothing against it
Sun 9 AMGood3440%59°nothing against it
Sun 10 AMGood3450%63°nothing against it
Sun 11 AMGood5550%64°nothing against it
Sun 12 PMGood6770%65°nothing against it
Sun 1 PMGood6790%66°nothing against it
Sun 2 PMGood7890%66°nothing against it
Sun 3 PMGood79110%66°nothing against it
Sun 4 PMGood810130%65°nothing against it
Sun 5 PMGood810130%64°nothing against it
Sun 6 PMCaution79110%63°civil twilight: lighting required (107.29)
Sun 7 PMCaution717190%61°gusts near or over your limit, night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Sun 8 PMCaution717180%60°night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Sun 9 PMCaution717180%60°night: lighting and night training required (107.29)

Flight restrictions nearby

Reading the FAA’s temporary flight restrictions.

Flight restrictions on the map. TFRs are not the whole picture: controlled airspace around airports needs LAANC authorization. Check the FAA’s B4UFLY.

Wind at 400 ft is estimated from the 10 m forecast by the power law, with exponents for each Pasquill stability class (Irwin 1979, rural, as in EPA dispersion models; the class from wind, sun height and cloud, after Turner 1970); gusts keep the ground gust’s margin. Caution from three quarters of your limit; the default 24 mph is the wind resistance printed for common sub-250 g drones. 14 CFR 107.51: “The minimum flight visibility, as observed from the location of the control station must be no less than 3 statute miles” and at least “500 feet below the cloud”. 14 CFR 107.29: “No person may operate a small unmanned aircraft system during periods of civil twilight unless the small unmanned aircraft has lighted anti-collision lighting visible for at least 3 statute miles”; civil twilight is the 30 minutes before sunrise and after sunset, in Alaska the Air Almanac’s. Kp: SWPC’s scales say satellite navigation problems may occur at G3 (Kp 7) and navigation is “degraded for hours” at G4 (Kp 8); Kp 5 is the typical app warning. Typical limits, not rules: rain chance 30% caution and 60% no-fly, thunder 10% and 20%, below 0 °C caution and −10 °C no-fly, over 40 °C caution. Your drone’s manual and the airspace come first.

Spraying and field work

Worked out from the NWS hourly forecast

Hours fit for spraying, and the days dry enough for fieldwork and hay, read from this forecast’s wind, gusts, humidity, temperature and rain.

Spraying windows

  • Sat 10 PM to Sun 8 AM 10 hours, every hour within the rules
  • Sun 9 AM to 9 PM 12 hours, every hour within the rules
  • Mon 10 AM to 9 PM 11 hours, every hour within the rules
  • Tue 10 AM to 9 PM 11 hours, every hour within the rules
  • Wed 7 PM to 9 PM 2 hours, every hour within the rules
  • Fri 7 PM to 11 PM 4 hours, every hour within the rules
  • Sat 11 AM to 4 PM 5 hours, every hour within the rules
Sat
Sun12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM
Mon12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM
Tue12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM

Good Marginal No

Field days

DayDaytimeChance of rainRainLowest humidityStrongest windDry days in a rowHay drying
SundayDry0%0.00 in63%8 mph3 d
MondayDry0%0.00 in68%6 mph2 d
TuesdayDry15%0.00 in64%7 mph1 d
WednesdayShowers possible52%0.00 in77%8 mph
ThursdayShowers possible69%0.00 in82%8 mph
FridayShowers possible38%0.00 in75%9 mph
SaturdayDry19%0.00 in76%8 mph1 d

Spraying: sustained wind 3 to 10 mph, the range US extension services and most labels give; gusts no more than 15 mph (this page’s limit); delta T (air minus wet-bulb temperature) 2 to 8 °C preferred and 8 to 10 °C marginal, from GRDC guidance, with the wet bulb by Stull’s formula; no hour at a 30% chance of rain or 0.25 mm forecast during the rain-free time. Follow the product label, which overrides all of this. Field days: dry is no daytime hour at a 30% chance and under 1 mm all day, wet is 6 mm (0.25 in) or more; soil moisture is not in the forecast, so ground still wet from earlier rain is not accounted for. Hay drying marks a dry day with humidity down to 50% and a breeze of 5 mph or more.

Solunar times

Computed from the moon’s position

The best-rated day this week is Saturday, rated best.

DayRatingMajor periodsMinor periodsMoonSunrise, sunset
Sat Best11:16 PM to 1:16 AM11:39 AM to 1:39 PM6:07 AM to 7:07 AM5:59 PM to 6:59 PM 100%6:42 AM, 6:41 PM
Sun Best12:02 AM to 2:02 AM12:25 PM to 2:25 PM7:18 AM to 8:18 AM6:23 PM to 7:23 PM 99%6:43 AM, 6:39 PM
Mon Good12:50 AM to 2:50 AM1:15 PM to 3:15 PM8:31 AM to 9:31 AM6:50 PM to 7:50 PM 95%6:44 AM, 6:37 PM
Tue Good1:42 AM to 3:42 AM2:09 PM to 4:09 PM9:48 AM to 10:48 AM7:23 PM to 8:23 PM 90%6:45 AM, 6:35 PM
Wed Poor2:38 AM to 4:38 AM3:08 PM to 5:08 PM11:05 AM to 12:05 PM8:05 PM to 9:05 PM 82%6:47 AM, 6:34 PM
Thu Fair3:38 AM to 5:38 AM4:09 PM to 6:09 PM12:19 PM to 1:19 PM8:58 PM to 9:58 PM 73%6:48 AM, 6:32 PM
Fri Fair4:41 AM to 6:41 AM5:12 PM to 7:12 PM1:24 PM to 2:24 PM10:02 PM to 11:02 PM 64%6:49 AM, 6:30 PM

Periods in bold fall within an hour of sunrise or sunset. The weather’s side is the fishing index

Major periods are two hours centered on the moon’s passage overhead and underfoot; minor periods are one hour centered on moonrise and moonset: the conventional durations of John Alden Knight’s solunar tables (1936). The rating is this site’s: one point to start, two more within a day and a half of a new or full moon (one more within three and a half days), and one more when a period falls within an hour of sunrise or sunset. The theory has mixed support in fisheries research; the times are exact astronomy.

In words

NWS forecast periods, as issued
  1. Tonight56° · 1% · ENE 5 mph

    Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. East northeast wind around 5 mph.

  2. Sunday66° · 1% · NNE 0–10 mph

    Mostly sunny. High near 66, with temperatures falling to around 64 in the afternoon. North northeast wind 0 to 10 mph.

  3. Sunday Night55° · N 5 mph

    Partly cloudy, with a low around 55. North wind around 5 mph.

  4. Monday69° · N 5 mph

    Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. North wind around 5 mph.

  5. Monday Night57° · ESE 0–5 mph

    Mostly clear, with a low around 57. East southeast wind 0 to 5 mph.

  6. Tuesday72° · S 5 mph

    Mostly sunny, with a high near 72.

  7. Tuesday Night63° · 48% · S 5 mph

    A chance of rain showers after 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63.

  8. Wednesday70° · 52% · S 5–10 mph

    A chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70.

  9. Wednesday Night64° · 54% · S 5 mph

    A chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64.

  10. Thursday70° · 69% · SW 5–10 mph

    Rain showers likely before 1pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70.

  11. Thursday Night60° · 69% · WNW 5–10 mph

    Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60.

  12. Friday66° · 39% · N 10 mph

    A chance of rain showers before 1pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 66.

  13. Friday Night58° · 31% · NE 5–10 mph

    A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58.

  14. Saturday65° · 24% · ESE 5–10 mph

    A slight chance of rain showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 65.

The forecaster’s discussion

NWS Chicago, IL · issued Sep 26, 6:30 PM CDT

Written by the forecaster on duty for their own colleagues and for anyone who wants to know why the forecast says what it says. It is not edited for the public, so it uses the office’s shorthand; it is also the most honest thing any weather service publishes.

KEY Messages

Seasonable temperatures for late September are expected over the next several days.

The next chances for widespread rainfall are forecasted to come mid to late next week.

Discussion

203 PM CDT Sat Sep 26 2026

A ridge of high pressure continues to reside over the Great Lakes in between the Nor'easter off the east coast and the broad troughing over the Pacific Northwest and Mountain West regions. This ridge is expected to remain in place through at least Monday which will keep seasonable temperatures (highs in the upper 60s to lower 70s and lows in the upper 40s and 50s) and primarily dry conditions around locally. However, there has been a band of some light showers and sprinkles in eastern IA associated with a shortwave disturbance rounding the base of the aforementioned western trough. While these showers/sprinkles will likely drift eastward tonight, the persistent east- northeast winds should keep drier air in place and prevent much of these showers/sprinkles from reaching the ground. That said, have opted to maintain a 10-20% chance for an isolated sprinkle near and west of I-39 late tonight into early Sunday morning just in case. Additionally, there is a chance for some patchy fog to develop around daybreak Sunday morning, mainly in northwest IN and adjacent areas of northeast IL. Given that cirrus clouds from the aforementioned showers in IA will spread east tonight, it is unclear how widespread and dense the fog will be as the clouds should help to ease some of the radiational cooling. For now have introduced some patchy fog to the forecast in northwest IN and portions of northeast IL where cloud cover is forecast to be at a minimum.

By Tuesday the broad trough over the Pacific Northwest and Mountain West is forecast to be ejecting into the upper Midwest. As it does so another trough/closed upper low is forecast to be traversing across southern California and the southwest CONUS. Latest ensemble and deterministic guidance favors that these two features will remain separate from one another which means that the Pacific Northwest trough should arrive first and bring with it some rain showers for the Tuesday night into Wednesday night timeframe. The southwestern trough/low is then expected to lag and arrive sometime towards the Thursday into Friday timeframe with additional showers and perhaps even some thunderstorms. However, it should be noted that guidance has been varying on the exact arrival time of these troughs and their associated rain thus making the specifics of this part of the forecast lower confidence. Despite the uncertainty, a period of wet weather looks likely mid to late week.

Behind these troughs, guidance is even more uncertain as to whether or not the upper level pattern will become more zonal (east-west oriented) or remain amplified heading into next weekend. If the zonal pattern becomes reality then we could be looking at another period of tranquil weather for next weekend, but if the amplified pattern materializes then things could remain active. With the large amount of uncertainty confidence beyond Thursday is obviously very low, but something we will be keeping an eye on. Regardless, seasonable temperatures are forecast to remain through at least next week.

Yack

Aviation · 00Z TAFs Through 06Z Monday

630 PM CDT Sat Sep 26 2026

VFR conditions will prevail through the period with the exception of BR/MIFG at outlying sites (DPA, GYY, RFD) late tonight through sunrise Sunday. Plenty of passing upper-level cirrus may mitigate the BR/MIFG potential, but if the cirrus clears more than expected tonight, a brief period of LIFR or lower visibility cannot be ruled out around sunrise for the outlying sites.

ENE/NE winds under 10 knots at TAF issuance will slowly diminish this evening. A land breeze developing over northeast Illinois overnight is expected to shift winds NW around or under 5 knots late tonight into mid-morning Sunday for the Chicago terminals. Winds should then return NE by late morning, then exhibit a lake-enhanced increase up to 10 knots early in the afternoon.

Kluber

LOT Watches / Warnings / Advisories

IL...None. IN...None. LM...None.

Hazardous weather outlook Sep 26, 2:48 PM CDT

The office’s own seven-day heads-up for spotters and emergency managers.

FLUS43 KLOT 261948
HWOLOT

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville IL
248 PM CDT Sat Sep 26 2026

ILZ003>006-008-010>013-019>021-023-032-033-039-103>108-INZ001-002-
010-011-019-272000-
Winnebago-Boone-McHenry-Lake IL-Ogle-Lee-De Kalb-Kane-DuPage-
La Salle-Kendall-Grundy-Kankakee-Livingston-Iroquois-Ford-
Northern Cook-Central Cook-Southern Cook-Northern Will-
Southern Will-Eastern Will-Lake IN-Porter-Newton-Jasper-Benton-
248 PM CDT Sat Sep 26 2026 /348 PM EDT Sat Sep 26 2026/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central
Illinois...northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

  No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday.

Tuesday through Friday...
  Limited Thunderstorm Risk at times.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

  Spotter activation will not be necessary through tonight.

$$

LMZ740>745-272000-
Winthrop Harbor to Wilmette Harbor IL-
Wilmette Harbor to Northerly Island IL-
Northerly Island to Calumet Harbor IL-
Calumet Harbor IL to Gary IN-Gary to Burns Harbor IN-
Burns Harbor to Michigan City IN-
248 PM CDT Sat Sep 26 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of the Illinois
nearshore waters of Lake Michigan and the Indiana nearshore
waters of Lake Michigan.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

  No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday.

Thursday...
  Limited Thunderstorm Risk.
Friday...
  Hazardous conditions for small craft are possible.
  Limited Thunderstorm Risk.

$$

Yack

Visit us at www.weather.gov/chicago

The outlooks beyond

SPC, WPC, CPC and the Drought Monitor, read at this point

The national centers each publish a judgment the local grid does not carry. Read here at this exact coordinate.

Severe weather

  1. Day 1 · Sat Sep 26No risk area
  2. Day 2 · Sun Sep 27No risk area
  3. Day 3 · Mon Sep 28No risk area
  4. Day 4 · Tue Sep 29No risk area
  5. Day 5 · Wed Sep 30No risk area
  6. Day 6 · Thu Oct 1No risk area
  7. Day 7 · Fri Oct 2No risk area
  8. Day 8 · Sat Oct 3No risk area

Rainfall

  1. Day 1 · Sat Sep 26Under 0.01 in
  2. Day 2 · Sun Sep 27Under 0.01 in
  3. Day 3 · Mon Sep 28Under 0.01 in
  4. Day 4-5 · Sep 29–Sep 300.75 in
  5. Day 6-7 · Oct 1–Oct 21.00 in

The rainfall forecast on the map, days 1 to 7

Flash flood risk

  1. Day 1 · Sat Sep 26Below marginal
  2. Day 2 · Sun Sep 27Below marginal
  3. Day 3 · Mon Sep 28Below marginal
  4. Day 4 · Tue Sep 29Below marginal
  5. Day 5 · Wed Sep 30Marginal

Six to fourteen days

  1. Days 6–10 · TemperatureNear normal most likelyOct 2–Oct 6
  2. Days 6–10 · PrecipitationNear normal most likelyOct 2–Oct 6
  3. Days 8–14 · TemperatureNear normal most likelyOct 4–Oct 10
  4. Days 8–14 · Precipitation33% chance below normalOct 4–Oct 10

Frost and climate

NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Chicago Midway AP

The last spring freeze (32°F) usually comes around April 11 and the first fall freeze around October 31: a growing season of about 201 days.

One fall in ten brings a freeze by October 20; one spring in ten still has one after April 27.

Climate of 41.88, -87.64: normals, records and every month

Everything else on the grid

NWS forecast grid · 27 elements

The forecast office edits about sixty fields for every cell of its grid. The common ones are above; these are the rest, as the daily extreme, for anyone who needs the mixing height, the fire danger or the swell.

ElementSatSunMonTueWedThuFriSat
HeatRisk max0 · Little0 · Little0 · Little1 · Minor1 · Minor1 · Minor1 · Minor0 · Little
Wet bulb globe temperature max61°64°68°69°67°68°64°64°
Heat index max72°70°
Chance of thunder max0%0%0%5%12%15%15%11%
Mixing height max1,800 ft2,500 ft2,300 ft2,700 ft1,600 ft1,300 ft2,200 ft2,200 ft
Transport wind max8 mph9 mph9 mph10 mph12 mph9 mph13 mph12 mph
Twenty-foot wind max7 mph7 mph6 mph7 mph8 mph7 mph8 mph7 mph
Wave height max0.0 ft0.0 ft0.0 ft0.0 ft0.0 ft0.0 ft2.0 ft1.0 ft
Wave period max3 s3 s5 s3 s2 s2 s7 s7 s

Against the record

NOAA GHCN · Chicago (MDW) · 8.8 mi away

Each forecast day against the same calendar date at the nearest long-record station: the 1991 to 2020 normal, and the record high and low with the year they were set.

DayForecastNormalRecord highRecord low
Sat Sep 2666° / 56°73° / 56°93° (2017)43° (2000)
Sun Sep 2766° / 55°72° / 54°89° (2025)47° (2001)
Mon Sep 2869° / 57°69° / 53°85° (2013)45° (2006)
Tue Sep 2972° / 63°70° / 52°90° (2025)42° (2003)
Wed Sep 3070° / 64°70° / 52°87° (2019)42° (2003)
Thu Oct 170° / 60°69° / 52°88° (2019)36° (2003)
Fri Oct 266° / 58°69° / 53°85° (2023)32° (2003)
Sat Oct 365° / 57°69° / 53°90° (2025)39° (2004)

Sun and moon

DayCivil twilightSunriseSunsetCivil twilightDaylightMoon
Sat6:14 AM6:42 AM6:41 PM7:08 PM11 h 59 min Full moon · 100% lit
Sun6:16 AM6:43 AM6:39 PM7:07 PM11 h 56 min Waning gibbous · 99% lit
Mon6:17 AM6:44 AM6:37 PM7:05 PM11 h 53 min Waning gibbous · 95% lit
Tue6:18 AM6:45 AM6:35 PM7:03 PM11 h 50 min Waning gibbous · 90% lit
Wed6:19 AM6:47 AM6:34 PM7:01 PM11 h 47 min Waning gibbous · 82% lit
Thu6:20 AM6:48 AM6:32 PM7:00 PM11 h 44 min Waning gibbous · 73% lit
Fri6:21 AM6:49 AM6:30 PM6:58 PM11 h 41 min Waning gibbous · 64% lit
Sat6:22 AM6:50 AM6:29 PM6:56 PM11 h 39 min Last quarter · 53% lit

Forecast from the National Weather Service forecast grid at api.weather.gov, updated by the local office through the day; the written periods and hourly digest are the NWS’s own. Outlooks from the Storm Prediction Center, the Weather Prediction Center and the Climate Prediction Center via NOAA’s map services. Records and normals from NOAA’s Global Historical Climatology Network. Sun and moon computed here. Place names from GeoNames (CC BY 4.0).

What is here

Seven days
The high, the low, the chance and amount of rain and snow, the wind and the forecaster’s words for each day and night, from the National Weather Service grid for the exact cell your town sits in.
Hour by hour
Temperature, what it feels like, dew point, humidity, chance and amount of precipitation, wind and gusts, sky cover, the chance of thunder, pressure, visibility and ceiling, as a chart and as a table, with nights shaded.
Everything else on the grid
The office edits about sixty fields for every cell. The ones the mainstream forecast pages leave out are here as a daily table: HeatRisk, wet bulb globe temperature, lightning activity, mixing height, transport wind, the fire weather indices, and at the coast the waves and swell.
The discussion
The Area Forecast Discussion the forecaster wrote to explain the forecast, in their own words, with the specialist annexes folded away. Also the office’s hazardous weather outlook.
Beyond the week
The Storm Prediction Center’s severe weather category for each of the next eight days, the Weather Prediction Center’s rainfall forecast to day seven and its winter storm severity, and the Climate Prediction Center’s odds for days six to fourteen, all read at your coordinate.
Against the record
Each forecast day beside the same date at the nearest long-record station: the thirty-year normal and the record high and low with their years, so a forecast high that would break a record says so.
The next 90 days
The forecast as far as the grid, the National Blend and the global models reach, and the calendar after that: the normal and the record for every date, with the Climate Prediction Center’s lean for the weeks, the month and the season drawn over them. No made-up highs for a date three months out.

Common questions

Where does this forecast come from?

From the National Weather Service forecast grid published at api.weather.gov, the same grid the local forecast office edits through the day and the source of every forecast on weather.gov. The written periods, the hourly digest and the forecaster’s discussion are the NWS’s own products, shown as issued. Nothing here is a blend a website made.

How far ahead does it go?

The grid runs seven days ahead, hour by hour for the first days and in three to six hour steps after that. The National Blend of Models carries the days to eleven and the global models to sixteen. Beyond that the page carries the national centers’ outlooks, severe weather to day eight, rainfall to day seven, and the Climate Prediction Center’s odds for the coming weeks, month and season, over a ninety-day calendar of the normal and the record for each date. No forecast has skill day by day past about two weeks, and this page does not print one.

Why is this different from the app on my phone?

Most forecast apps show a blend of models chosen by the company that makes the app. This page shows the forecast the local National Weather Service office issues, edited by the forecasters who will also issue the warnings, and it shows all of it rather than the six numbers that fit on a phone. The discussion explains the reasoning, which no app carries.

What is a place’s address here?

Every town has its own page, such as /forecast/us/oklahoma/oklahoma-city/, and every day at a town has one too. A ZIP code typed into the search goes to the town it belongs to. Any coordinate at all can be looked up, and the page names the nearest town.

What the weather actually was · Open the live radar · Where the data comes from