Current weather · Sep 28, 2:01 AM CDT

41.9360, -88.7640

52°

Patchy fogFeels like 52° · Humidity 90%NWS forecast for this hour; no recent station reportForecast by NWS Chicago, IL · grid 37,74
High
74°
Low
50°
Rain today
2%
Sunrise
6:49 AM
Sunset
6:42 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
Mon 2 AMPatchy fog52°52°49°90%0%N1 mph3 mph44%——
Mon 3 AMPatchy fog51°51°48°92%0%N2 mph5 mph46%——
Mon 4 AMPatchy fog50°50°48°95%0%N2 mph5 mph51%——
Mon 5 AMPatchy fog49°49°48°97%0%NNW2 mph5 mph54%——
Mon 6 AMPatchy fog49°49°48°99%0%N2 mph5 mph58%——
Mon 7 AMPatchy fog49°49°48°98%1%N1 mph3 mph52%——
Mon 8 AM52°52°50°91%2%N2 mph5 mph46%——
Mon 9 AM57°57°52°81%2%N2 mph5 mph41%——
Mon 10 AM62°62°54°73%2%NNE2 mph5 mph32%——
Mon 11 AM66°66°54°64%2%NE3 mph5 mph24%——
Mon 12 PM69°69°53°56%2%NE2 mph5 mph15%——
Mon 1 PM72°72°52°50%2%ENE2 mph5 mph15%——
Mon 2 PM73°73°53°49%2%ENE2 mph5 mph15%——
Mon 3 PM74°74°52°47%2%ENE2 mph5 mph15%——
Mon 4 PM74°74°52°47%2%ENE2 mph5 mph20%——
Mon 5 PM72°72°53°50%2%ENE3 mph5 mph15%——
Mon 6 PM69°69°54°58%1%ENE2 mph5 mph13%——
Mon 7 PM65°65°53°65%1%ENE3 mph5 mph6%——
Mon 8 PM62°62°53°73%1%ENE3 mph5 mph13%——
Mon 9 PM60°60°53°79%1%E3 mph6 mph11%——
Mon 10 PM58°58°53°82%1%ESE3 mph7 mph14%——
Mon 11 PM57°57°53°87%1%ESE2 mph6 mph20%——
Tue 12 AM55°55°53°91%1%ESE2 mph5 mph26%——
Tue 1 AM55°55°53°94%0%SE2 mph5 mph32%——
Tue 2 AM54°54°53°97%0%SE2 mph5 mph35%——
Tue 3 AM53°53°53°100%0%SE2 mph5 mph39%——
Tue 4 AM52°52°52°100%0%SSE2 mph5 mph44%——
Tue 5 AMPatchy fog51°51°51°100%0%SSE2 mph5 mph48%——
Tue 6 AMPatchy fog51°51°51°100%0%SSE2 mph5 mph59%——
Tue 7 AMPatchy fog50°50°50°100%0%SSE2 mph5 mph50%——
Tue 8 AMPatchy fog54°54°54°100%0%SSE3 mph7 mph43%——
Tue 9 AM59°59°56°91%0%SSE5 mph7 mph50%——
Tue 10 AM64°64°57°78%0%S5 mph9 mph56%——
Tue 11 AM68°68°56°67%0%S7 mph10 mph38%——
Tue 12 PM71°71°56°59%0%S7 mph13 mph42%——
Tue 1 PM74°74°56°53%0%S8 mph13 mph36%——
Tue 2 PM75°75°55°49%0%S8 mph14 mph45%——
Tue 3 PM76°76°55°48%0%S8 mph13 mph48%——
Tue 4 PM76°76°54°47%0%S7 mph14 mph57%——
Tue 5 PM74°74°56°52%0%S7 mph10 mph49%——
Tue 6 PM71°71°55°57%0%SSE6 mph9 mph43%——
Tue 7 PM67°67°55°64%0%SSE6 mph8 mph47%——
Tue 8 PM65°65°55°70%0%SSE6 mph9 mph51%——
Tue 9 PM63°63°55°74%0%SSE6 mph10 mph55%——
Tue 10 PM62°62°55°76%2%SSE6 mph10 mph59%——
Tue 11 PM62°62°54°77%2%SSE6 mph12 mph63%——
Wed 12 AM61°61°54°77%2%S7 mph13 mph66%——
Wed 1 AM61°61°54°77%2%S7 mph13 mph70%1%——

The next 16 days

NWS grid published Sep 28, 1:45 AM CDT to day 8, the National Blend of Models to day 10, the mean of GFS, ECMWF, ECMWF AI to day 16
  1. TodaySep 2874°50°Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny2%wind 3 mph
  2. TueSep 2976°60°Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny2%wind 8 mph · gusts 14 mph
  3. WedSep 3076°64°Chance Rain Showers34%0.04 inwind 12 mph · gusts 21 mph
  4. ThuOct 173°53°Showers And Thunderstorms78%0.21 inwind 9 mph · gusts 18 mph
  5. FriOct 266°49°Chance Rain Showers34%wind 9 mph · gusts 15 mph
  6. SatOct 365°51°Slight Chance Rain Showers17%wind 8 mph · gusts 14 mph
  7. SunOct 465°49°Slight Chance Rain Showers19%wind 8 mph · gusts 15 mph
  8. MonOct 564°48°12%wind 8 mph
  9. TueOct 665°52°National Blend9%wind 8 mph · gusts 14 mph
  10. WedOct 767°52°National Blend6%wind 8 mph · gusts 15 mph
  11. ThuOct 8~64°49°Model mean0.19 in
  12. FriOct 9~56°41°Model mean
  13. SatOct 10~61°46°Model mean
  14. SunOct 11~55°44°Model mean0.07 in
  15. MonOct 12~52°33°Model mean
  16. TueOct 13~46°37°Model mean

Right now

NWS grid for this hour · UV from the EPA · air quality from AirNow
  • Feels like52°
  • WindCalm
  • Radar over this pointno reading
  • Humidity90%
  • Dew point49°
  • Pressure—
  • UV index—
  • Air quality—
  • Visibility—
  • Sunrise and sunsetSunrise · Sunset · not yet up
  • Moonrise7:24 PMMoonset 9:06 AM
  • Moon phaseWaning gibbous95% lit

The National Blend of Models

NOAA NBM v5.0 · run of Sep 27, 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 2874°53°NWS grid 74° / 50°rain 2%wind 3 mph
  2. TueSep 2976°61°NWS grid 76° / 60°rain 24%wind 8 mph · gusts 14 mph
  3. WedSep 3075°65°NWS grid 76° / 64°rain 53%thunder 14%0.18 inwind 10 mph · gusts 18 mph
  4. ThuOct 173°55°NWS grid 73° / 53°rain 79%thunder 23%1.13 inwind 9 mph · gusts 18 mph
  5. FriOct 266°50°NWS grid 66° / 49°rain 41%0.28 inwind 10 mph · gusts 17 mph
  6. SatOct 365°51°NWS grid 65° / 51°rain 16%0.06 inwind 8 mph · gusts 14 mph
  7. SunOct 465°51°NWS grid 65° / 49°rain 16%0.01 inwind 9 mph · gusts 15 mph
  8. MonOct 563°49°NWS grid 64° / 48°rain 7%wind 8 mph · gusts 14 mph
  9. TueOct 665°52°Beyond the NWS gridrain 9%wind 8 mph · gusts 14 mph
  10. WedOct 767°52°Beyond the NWS gridrain 6%wind 8 mph · gusts 15 mph
  11. ThuOct 865°—Beyond the NWS gridrain 9%wind 9 mph · gusts 16 mph
41°59°77°TueWedThuFriSatSunMon

BlendNWS gridChance of rain, hourly

The models, side by side

HRRR Sep 27, 7:00 PM CDT · GFS Sep 27, 7:00 PM CDT · GEFS Sep 27, 7:00 PM CDT · ECMWF Sep 27, 7:00 AM CDT · ECMWF AI Sep 27, 7:00 PM 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.

41°59°77°TueWedThuFriSatSunMon

DayNWS gridHRRRGFSGEFSECMWFECMWF AI
Today Sep 2874° 50°71° 51°71° 51°72° 50°70° 46°~72° 49°
Tue Sep 2976° 60°73° 53°73° 53°73° 52°72° 51°~73° 50°
Wed Sep 3076° 64°0.04 in—69° 62°0.02 in70° 62°0.28 in70° 61°0.30 in~68° 62°0.52 in
Thu Oct 173° 53°0.21 in—72° 56°0.48 in68° 61°0.71 in67° 61°1.41 in~70° 67°1.16 in
Fri Oct 266° 49°—65° 49°65° 54°0.11 in65° 52°~67° 59°0.09 in
Sat Oct 365° 51°—63° 47°64° 53°0.18 in~65° 50°~67° 50°
Sun Oct 465° 49°—66° 49°63° 52°0.07 in~58° 54°0.50 in~70° 51°
Mon Oct 564° 48°—60° 43°58° 45°0.02 in~61° 56°0.19 in~57° 42°
Tue Oct 6——59° 45°59° 43°~66° 54°~61° 37°
Wed Oct 7——64° 48°64° 47°0.04 in~70° 60°0.06 in~69° 48°0.20 in
Thu Oct 8——~65° 52°—~61° 47°0.55 in~64° 49°
Fri Oct 9——~52° 37°0.02 in—~45° 41°~70° 47°
Sat Oct 10——~57° 46°0.02 in—~50° 34°~78° 59°
Sun Oct 11——~48° 34°—~53° 43°0.20 in~65° 54°
Mon Oct 12——~45° 29°—~45° 44°~59° 38°
Tue Oct 13——~46° 37°———

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 De Kalb (DKB) · 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 Tue Oct 13, 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 Dec-20°0°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 2871° / 47°90° (1971)25° (1974)33% chance above normal · Oct 2026equal chances · Oct 2026
Oct 567° / 45°89° (2005)22° (1987)near normal most likely · days 8 to 1433% chance below normal · days 8 to 14
Oct 1261° / 41°86° (1975)21° (1988)33% chance above normal · Oct 2026equal chances · Oct 2026
Oct 1960° / 39°82° (1979)18° (1992)33% chance above normal · Oct 2026equal chances · Oct 2026
Oct 2655° / 35°81° (2024)13° (1988)33% chance above normal · Oct 2026equal chances · Oct 2026
Nov 252° / 34°76° (2000)6° (1991)40% chance above normal · Oct to Decequal chances · Oct to Dec
Nov 945° / 29°76° (1999)-0° (2019)40% chance above normal · Oct to Decequal chances · Oct to Dec
Nov 1646° / 30°72° (2016)5° (2014)40% chance above normal · Oct to Decequal chances · Oct to Dec
Nov 2341° / 26°67° (2010)-8° (1976)40% chance above normal · Oct to Decequal chances · Oct to Dec
Nov 3040° / 24°69° (2012)-7° (1977)40% chance above normal · Oct to Decequal chances · Oct to Dec
Dec 734° / 18°60° (1975)-15° (1972)40% chance above normal · Oct to Decequal chances · Oct to Dec
Dec 1433° / 20°64° (2021)-17° (1983)40% chance above normal · Oct to Decequal chances · Oct to Dec
Dec 2132° / 15°60° (1982)-22° (1983)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.

Each rating says which span it is for: the rest of today’s daylight, tonight, or the next 24 hours.

Health

  • Arthritisnext 24 hModeratehumid
  • Sinus pressurenext 24 hLowsteady conditions
  • Common coldtodayLowmild
  • FlutodayLowmild
  • Migrainenext 24 hLowsteady conditions
  • Asthmanext 24 hLowclean air
  • Heat stresstodayLowmild
  • SunburntodayLowweak sun
  • Frostbitenext 24 hLowmild
  • SleepingtonightIdealcool, quiet night

Outdoors

  • RunningtodayVery goodhot
  • HikingtodayIdealfine conditions
  • BikingtodayIdealfine conditions
  • GolftodayIdealfine conditions
  • FishingtodayIdealfine conditions
  • Boating and paddlingtodayGoodfog
  • Beach and pooltodayIdealfine conditions
  • CampingtonightIdealfine conditions
  • StargazingtonightPoormostly cloudy

Travel

  • Air travelnext 24 hGoodfog
  • Drivingnext 24 hGoodfog

Home and garden

  • Lawn mowingtodayIdealfine conditions
  • GardeningtodayIdealfine conditions
  • Outdoor entertainingtodayIdealfine conditions
  • Drying laundry outsidetodayIdealfine conditions
  • Painting and outdoor projectstodayIdealfine conditions
  • FrosttonightLowmild

Pests

  • MosquitoestodayHighwarm
  • TickstodayHighwarm
  • Indoor pestsnext 24 hHighcool nights, warm days
  • Outdoor peststodayModeratewarm

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 fair.

Night ofRatingDarkClear hoursClear and moonlessMoon litTransparency (est.)DewStrongest wind
MondayFair8:15 PM to 5:17 AM4 of 9None93%Fair5 h3 mph
TuesdayPoor8:13 PM to 5:18 AM0 of 9None87%8 mph
WednesdayPoor8:11 PM to 5:19 AM0 of 9None79%9 mph
ThursdayPoor8:09 PM to 5:20 AM0 of 9None70%8 mph
FridayPoor8:07 PM to 5:21 AM0 of 9None60%2 h6 mph
SaturdayPoor8:06 PM to 5:23 AM0 of 9None50%4 h6 mph
SundayPoor8:04 PM to 5:24 AM0 of 9None39%2 h7 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
Mon6:21 AM to 6:32 AM6:32 AM to 7:26 AM6:05 PM to 6:59 PM6:59 PM to 7:09 PM
Tue6:22 AM to 6:33 AM6:33 AM to 7:27 AM6:03 PM to 6:57 PM6:57 PM to 7:08 PM
Wed6:23 AM to 6:34 AM6:34 AM to 7:28 AM6:01 PM to 6:55 PM6:55 PM to 7:06 PM
Thu6:24 AM to 6:35 AM6:35 AM to 7:29 AM6:00 PM to 6:54 PM6:54 PM to 7:04 PM
Fri6:25 AM to 6:36 AM6:36 AM to 7:30 AM5:58 PM to 6:52 PM6:52 PM to 7:03 PM
Sat6:26 AM to 6:37 AM6:37 AM to 7:31 AM5:56 PM to 6:50 PM6:50 PM to 7:01 PM
Sun6:28 AM to 6:38 AM6:38 AM to 7:33 AM5:54 PM to 6:48 PM6:48 PM to 6:59 PM
NESWSRSSMRMS
  • SR Sunrise 6:49 AM, 92° E
  • SS Sunset 6:42 PM, 268° W
  • MR Moonrise 7:24 PM, 66° ENE
  • MS Moonset 9:06 AM, 291° WNW
  • Waning gibbous, 95% 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: Mon 7 AM to 6 PM, 11 hours.

Today: civil twilight for Part 107 6:19 AM to sunrise 6:49 AM, and sunset 6:42 PM to 7:12 PM. Anti-collision lighting is required in those minutes and at night.

Mon6 AM12 PM6 PM
Tue12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM
Wed12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM

Good Caution No-fly

HourVerdictWind (mph)400 ft est. (mph)Gust (mph)RainVisibilityCloud allowsTempKpWhy
Mon 2 AMCaution1570%52°night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Mon 3 AMCaution29110%51°night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Mon 4 AMCaution2680%50°night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Mon 5 AMCaution2680%49°night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Mon 6 AMCaution2680%49°night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Mon 7 AMGood1141%49°nothing against it
Mon 8 AMGood2352%52°nothing against it
Mon 9 AMGood2352%57°nothing against it
Mon 10 AMGood2352%62°nothing against it
Mon 11 AMGood3452%66°nothing against it
Mon 12 PMGood2352%69°nothing against it
Mon 1 PMGood2352%72°nothing against it
Mon 2 PMGood2352%73°nothing against it
Mon 3 PMGood2352%74°nothing against it
Mon 4 PMGood2352%74°nothing against it
Mon 5 PMGood3452%72°nothing against it
Mon 6 PMCaution2351%69°civil twilight: lighting required (107.29)
Mon 7 PMCaution314151%65°night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Mon 8 PMCaution314151%62°night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Mon 9 PMCaution314161%60°night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Mon 10 PMCaution314171%58°night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Mon 11 PMCaution29131%57°night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Tue 12 AMCaution29111%55°night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Tue 1 AMCaution29110%55°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

  • Mon 7 PM to 11 PM 4 hours, every hour within the rules
  • Tue 10 AM to Wed 9 AM 23 hours, every hour within the rules
  • Wed 7 PM to 9 PM 2 hours, every hour within the rules
  • Fri 8 AM to 11 PM 15 hours, every hour within the rules
  • Sat 10 AM to 10 PM 12 hours, every hour within the rules
  • Sun 10 AM to 10 PM 12 hours, every hour within the rules
  • Mon 10 AM to 4 PM 6 hours, every hour within the rules
Mon6 AM12 PM6 PM
Tue12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM
Wed12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM
Thu12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM

Good Marginal No

Field days

DayDaytimeChance of rainRainLowest humidityStrongest windDry days in a rowHay drying
MondayDry2%0.00 in47%3 mph2 d
TuesdayDry0%0.00 in47%8 mph1 dGood
WednesdayShowers possible34%0.04 in56%12 mph
ThursdayShowers possible78%0.21 in74%9 mph
FridayDry15%0.00 in56%9 mph4 d
SaturdayDry17%0.00 in62%8 mph3 d
SundayDry19%0.00 in63%8 mph2 d
MondayDry8%0.00 in60%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 Monday, rated good.

DayRatingMajor periodsMinor periodsMoonSunrise, sunset
Mon Good12:55 AM to 2:55 AM1:20 PM to 3:20 PM8:36 AM to 9:36 AM6:54 PM to 7:54 PM 95%6:49 AM, 6:42 PM
Tue Good1:47 AM to 3:47 AM2:14 PM to 4:14 PM9:53 AM to 10:53 AM7:27 PM to 8:27 PM 90%6:50 AM, 6:40 PM
Wed Poor2:43 AM to 4:43 AM3:12 PM to 5:12 PM11:10 AM to 12:10 PM8:09 PM to 9:09 PM 82%6:51 AM, 6:38 PM
Thu Fair3:43 AM to 5:43 AM4:14 PM to 6:14 PM12:24 PM to 1:24 PM9:02 PM to 10:02 PM 73%6:52 AM, 6:36 PM
Fri Fair4:45 AM to 6:45 AM5:17 PM to 7:17 PM1:29 PM to 2:29 PM10:07 PM to 11:07 PM 64%6:53 AM, 6:35 PM
Sat Fair5:48 AM to 7:48 AM6:18 PM to 8:18 PM2:22 PM to 3:22 PM11:19 PM to 12:19 AM 53%6:54 AM, 6:33 PM
Sun Fair6:48 AM to 8:48 AM7:16 PM to 9:16 PM3:05 PM to 4:05 PM 43%6:55 AM, 6:31 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. Overnight49° · 0 mph

    Patchy fog. Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. North wind around 0 mph.

  2. Monday74° · 2% · NNE 0–5 mph

    Patchy fog before 8am. Mostly sunny. High near 74, with temperatures falling to around 72 in the afternoon. North northeast wind 0 to 5 mph.

  3. Monday Night50° · 1% · ESE 0–5 mph

    Patchy fog after 5am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. East southeast wind 0 to 5 mph.

  4. Tuesday76° · SSE 0–10 mph

    Patchy fog before 9am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. South southeast wind 0 to 10 mph.

  5. Tuesday Night60° · 9% · SSE 5–10 mph

    Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. South southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

  6. Wednesday76° · 34% · S 10 mph

    A chance of rain showers after 7am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

  7. Wednesday Night64° · 59% · S 10 mph

    A chance of rain showers before 7pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a low around 64.

  8. Thursday73° · 78% · W 10 mph

    Showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 73.

  9. Thursday Night53° · 66% · N 5–10 mph

    Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53.

  10. Friday66° · 33% · N 5–10 mph

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

  11. Friday Night49° · 15% · NNE 5 mph

    A slight chance of rain showers after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 49.

  12. Saturday65° · 17% · ENE 5–10 mph

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

  13. Saturday Night51° · 17% · ESE 5 mph

    A slight chance of rain showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 51.

  14. Sunday65° · 19% · S 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 28, 12:59 AM 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

Patchy fog possible again late tonight into early Monday morning, some of which could be locally dense.

Seasonable temperatures to continue through mid-week.

Confidence is increasing for a period of rain for the middle and later portions of the week.

Discussion

201 PM CDT Sun Sep 27 2026

High pressure continues to reside over the Great Lakes which is giving us another pleasant late September afternoon. These pleasant conditions are expected to persist through at least Tuesday afternoon as the high remains in place. Though, afternoon temperatures will be a degree or two each day as winds turn more southerly with highs in the lower to mid-70s and nighttime lows in the 50s. However, there will be another chance for some patchy fog again tonight into early Monday morning as winds ease and mostly clear skies allow for efficient radiational cooling. Similar to last night, forecast soundings do show moisture depths being rather shallow which means that fog tonight will likely be more scattered in nature and mainly confined to more low-lying areas. That said, anywhere fog does develop it could become locally dense with visibilities under a half mile. Given the low confidence on fog coverage have opted to hold off on any Dense Fog Advisories at this time, but something we will be monitoring closely.

The middle and later portions of the week continue to look active weather wise as the broad trough currently over the Pacific Northwest ejects into the Midwest. Guidance continues to show the trough splitting into two distinct features as the northern trough races east and the developing upper low off of northern CA breaks off and phases with what will be the remnants of Hurricane Polo over the southwest CONUS. As these features traverse into the Plains a frontal boundary is forecast to develop across the Plains and interact with advancing tropical moisture from the Gulf and the remnants of Polo. This should allow a broad area of rain to develop along this front and gradually get pushed east into the Midwest and Great Lakes ahead of the trough and upper low. However, since there will be timing differences between the northern trough and upper low there will mostly likely also be drastic timing differences on when the front and its associated rain will arrive from north to south. Right now the latest forecast trends continue to favor a later arrival of the front in northern IL and northwest IN with guidance currently favoring an arrival sometime in the Wednesday to Thursday timeframe. Though, with some stout warm advection expected to be ongoing ahead of the northern stream trough a few showers cannot be ruled out in portions of northern and northwest IL as early as Tuesday night.

Once the front and its associated rain does arrive, conditions do look favorable for a period of locally heavy rainfall given the stout forcing, modest instability, and ample moisture (PWATs nearing 2.0 inches). The big questions for us will be how long does the rain linger and where does the axis of heaviest rainfall set up. Unfortunately, these questions remain highly uncertain in the latest guidance as some are much more progressive with the front while others are slower and the axis of heaviest rain varies from WI to the Ohio River Valley. Bottom line, the middle to later part of the week will likely contain showers and a threat for heavier rainfall which could lead to localized flooding issues especially if the slower forecast solutions pan out. So make sure to stay updated on the forecast.

The northern stream trough and front are forecast to exit the region sometime on Friday or Friday night which should give us a break in the weather to start the weekend. However, another trough is forecast to be traversing across the northern Plains and should begin to phase with the slower moving upper low mentioned previously. Now where exactly this low goes as it phases will determine whether or not northern IL and northwest IN get into another period of rain this weekend or get missed to the south. With ensemble guidance varying greatly on where the low will track and how expansive the rain shield will be, confidence is obviously very low for this part of the forecast. So right now our official forecast will maintain some slight chance (15-20%) POPs through the weekend with hopes to offer better details as we get closer. Regardless, temperatures do look to turn towards slightly below average in the wake of the mid-week front with highs back in the 60s.

Yack

Aviation · 06Z TAFs Through 12Z Tuesday

1259 AM CDT Mon Sep 28 2026

Key aviation forecast messages:

Areas of fog possible again early this morning, and potentially more widespread early Tuesday morning.

Fog has already started to develop across northwest Indiana at the start of the period. High cloud coverage has since eroded across the area which will likely aid in greater fog coverage than earlier guidance suggested into Illinois. Have accordingly maintained low-end MVFR VSBY reductions in TEMPOs from 10-14Z at the Chicago terminals. Confidence is lower out toward RFD given closer proximity to the eastern periphery of the high cloud cover, however, some clearing has also occurred there so have introduced a TEMPO for 3 SM VSBYs there as well.

Expect any fog/BR that develops overnight to erode quickly during the 13-15Z window with VFR conditions then forecast through the remainder of the day. Light and variable winds will eventually settle into a prevailing northeast direction mid to late morning around 5-10 kt behind a weak lake breeze.

Winds ease again with sunset under clearing skies which will set the stage for yet another night of fog potential. Model guidance is even more bullish on fog blossoming across a larger footprint of the area, including Chicago, after 6Z through early Tuesday morning. Due to this signal, have already introduced TEMPOs hinting at VSBY reductions toward the end of the 30-hr TAFs, however, even lower VSBYs and CIGs (potentially LIFR/VLIFR) may become warranted with later updates if confidence increases.

Petr

LOT Watches / Warnings / Advisories

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

Hazardous weather outlook Sep 27, 9:15 PM CDT

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

FLUS43 KLOT 280215 AAA
HWOLOT

Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville IL
915 PM CDT Sun Sep 27 2026

ILZ003>006-008-010>013-019>021-023-032-033-039-103>108-INZ001-002-
010-011-019-290215-
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-
915 PM CDT Sun Sep 27 2026 /1015 PM EDT Sun Sep 27 2026/

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

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Weather hazards expected...

  Limited Fog Risk.

DISCUSSION...

Pockets of fog may locally reduce visibilities under 1 mile late
tonight, primarily east of the Fox Valley. 

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday.

Monday...
  Limited Fog Risk in the morning.
Wednesday and Thursday...
  Limited Flooding Risk.
  Limited Thunderstorm Risk.
Friday...
 Limited Thunderstorm Risk.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

  Spotter activation will not be necessary through tonight.

$$

LMZ740>745-290215-
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-
915 PM CDT Sun Sep 27 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...Monday through Saturday.

Wednesday...
  Limited Thunderstorm Risk.
Thursday...
  Hazardous conditions for small craft are likely.
  Limited Thunderstorm Risk.
Friday and Saturday...
  Hazardous conditions for small craft are likely.

$$

Carlaw

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

Rainfall

  1. Day 1 · Mon Sep 28Under 0.01 in
  2. Day 2 · Tue Sep 29Under 0.01 in
  3. Day 3 · Wed Sep 300.10 in
  4. Day 4-5 · Oct 1–Oct 20.75 in
  5. Day 6-7 · Oct 3–Oct 40.01 in

The rainfall forecast on the map, days 1 to 7

Flash flood risk

  1. Day 1 · Mon Sep 28Below marginal
  2. Day 2 · Tue Sep 29Below marginal
  3. Day 3 · Wed Sep 30Below marginal
  4. Day 4 · Thu Oct 1Marginal
  5. Day 5 · Fri Oct 2Slight

Six to fourteen days

  1. Days 6–10 · TemperatureNear normal most likelyOct 3–Oct 7
  2. Days 6–10 · PrecipitationNear normal most likelyOct 3–Oct 7
  3. Days 8–14 · TemperatureNear normal most likelyOct 5–Oct 11
  4. Days 8–14 · Precipitation33% chance below normalOct 5–Oct 11

Hazards, 3 to 14 days

  1. Thu Oct 1Heavy Rain

Drought

  1. Drought Monitor, map of Sep 22D0 Abnormally dry

Drought in this county: the map, the record since 2000 and the outlook

Frost and climate

NOAA 1991-2020 normals, De Kalb

The last spring freeze (32°F) usually comes around April 24 and the first fall freeze around October 18: a growing season of about 177 days.

One fall in ten brings a freeze by October 4; one spring in ten still has one after May 10.

Climate of 41.94, -88.76: 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.

ElementMonTueWedThuFriSatSunMon
HeatRisk max0 · Little0 · Little1 · Minor1 · Minor1 · Minor0 · Little0 · Little0 · Little
Wet bulb globe temperature max69°70°70°68°62°62°62°60°
Heat index max74°76°76°70°
Wind chill min49°50°49°48°
Chance of thunder max0%0%16%23%3%3%6%7%
Mixing height max3,600 ft2,900 ft1,600 ft2,000 ft1,900 ft2,400 ft2,600 ft
Transport wind max8 mph13 mph13 mph10 mph14 mph15 mph14 mph
Twenty-foot wind max3 mph7 mph10 mph9 mph9 mph7 mph8 mph7 mph

Against the record

NOAA GHCN · De Kalb (DKB) · 3.0 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
Mon Sep 2874° / 50°69° / 48°89° (1971)28° (1991)
Tue Sep 2976° / 60°67° / 46°86° (1986)30° (1992)
Wed Sep 3076° / 64°68° / 46°90° (1971)31° (1984)
Thu Oct 173° / 53°71° / 47°88° (1971)32° (1984)
Fri Oct 266° / 49°70° / 46°89° (1976)25° (1974)
Sat Oct 365° / 51°68° / 47°88° (1976)28° (1974)
Sun Oct 465° / 49°68° / 48°89° (2025)27° (1989)
Mon Oct 564° / 48°65° / 44°89° (2005)26° (1989)

Sun and moon

DayCivil twilightSunriseSunsetCivil twilightDaylightMoon
Mon6:21 AM6:49 AM6:42 PM7:09 PM11 h 53 min Waning gibbous · 95% lit
Tue6:22 AM6:50 AM6:40 PM7:08 PM11 h 50 min Waning gibbous · 90% lit
Wed6:23 AM6:51 AM6:38 PM7:06 PM11 h 47 min Waning gibbous · 82% lit
Thu6:24 AM6:52 AM6:36 PM7:04 PM11 h 44 min Waning gibbous · 73% lit
Fri6:25 AM6:53 AM6:35 PM7:03 PM11 h 42 min Waning gibbous · 64% lit
Sat6:26 AM6:54 AM6:33 PM7:01 PM11 h 39 min Last quarter · 53% lit
Sun6:28 AM6:55 AM6:31 PM6:59 PM11 h 36 min Last quarter · 43% lit
Mon6:29 AM6:56 AM6:30 PM6:58 PM11 h 34 min Waning crescent · 32% 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