Current weather · Sep 26, 4:15 AM CDT
42.3670, -89.0870
48°
- High
- 67°
- Low
- 47°
- Rain today
- 4%
- Sunrise
- 6:48 AM
- Sunset
- 6:46 PM
Hour by hour
NWS forecast gridScroll sideways for more hours. Pick an hour for every number.
Every hour as a table48 hours
| Time | Weather | Temperature | Feels like | Dew point | Humidity | Chance | Amount | Snow | Dir | Wind | Gust | Sky cover | Thunder | Pressure | Visibility | Ceiling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 4 AM | 48° | 47° | 48° | 97% | 0% | E | 3 mph | 9 mph | 26% | — | — | |||||
| Sat 5 AM | 49° | 48° | 47° | 94% | 0% | E | 3 mph | 9 mph | 30% | — | — | |||||
| Sat 6 AM | 49° | 47° | 47° | 95% | 0% | E | 3 mph | 9 mph | 34% | — | — | |||||
| Sat 7 AM | 48° | 48° | 47° | 96% | 0% | E | 3 mph | 8 mph | 38% | — | — | |||||
| Sat 8 AM | 52° | 52° | 49° | 91% | 0% | E | 3 mph | 9 mph | 46% | — | — | |||||
| Sat 9 AM | 56° | 56° | 50° | 81% | 0% | ESE | 6 mph | 13 mph | 53% | — | — | |||||
| Sat 10 AM | 60° | 61° | 50° | 69% | 0% | ESE | 7 mph | 13 mph | 58% | — | — | |||||
| Sat 11 AM | 63° | 63° | 50° | 61% | 0% | ESE | 7 mph | 10 mph | 58% | — | — | |||||
| Sat 12 PM | 65° | 65° | 49° | 57% | 0% | SE | 7 mph | 8 mph | 58% | — | — | |||||
| Sat 1 PM | 66° | 66° | 49° | 55% | 0% | SE | 6 mph | 7 mph | 59% | — | — | |||||
| Sat 2 PM | 67° | 67° | 50° | 54% | 0% | ESE | 6 mph | 7 mph | 56% | — | — | |||||
| Sat 3 PM | 67° | 67° | 50° | 54% | 0% | ESE | 6 mph | 7 mph | 52% | — | — | |||||
| Sat 4 PM | 67° | 67° | 49° | 53% | 0% | ESE | 6 mph | 8 mph | 52% | — | — | |||||
| Sat 5 PM | 66° | 66° | 50° | 57% | 0% | ESE | 6 mph | 8 mph | 52% | — | — | |||||
| Sat 6 PM | 63° | 63° | 51° | 64% | 1% | ESE | 5 mph | 8 mph | 51% | — | — | |||||
| Sat 7 PM | 59° | 59° | 50° | 73% | 2% | E | 6 mph | 9 mph | 61% | — | — | |||||
| Sat 8 PM | 57° | 57° | 50° | 77% | 2% | E | 5 mph | 9 mph | 55% | — | — | |||||
| Sat 9 PM | 55° | 55° | 49° | 80% | 2% | E | 5 mph | 9 mph | 64% | — | — | |||||
| Sat 10 PM | 53° | 53° | 48° | 83% | 4% | E | 5 mph | 10 mph | 59% | — | — | |||||
| Sat 11 PM | 52° | 52° | 48° | 86% | 4% | E | 3 mph | 8 mph | 51% | — | — | |||||
| Sun 12 AM | 51° | 51° | 47° | 87% | 4% | E | 2 mph | 6 mph | 57% | — | — | |||||
| Sun 1 AM | 50° | 50° | 46° | 87% | 6% | ESE | 2 mph | 6 mph | 60% | — | — | |||||
| Sun 2 AM | 49° | 49° | 46° | 89% | 6% | E | 1 mph | 5 mph | 59% | — | — | |||||
| Sun 3 AM | 48° | 48° | 45° | 90% | 6% | E | 1 mph | 5 mph | 57% | — | — | |||||
| Sun 4 AM | Chance of very light rain showers | 48° | 48° | 45° | 90% | 10% | E | 1 mph | 5 mph | 65% | — | — | ||||
| Sun 5 AM | Chance of very light rain showers | 48° | 48° | 45° | 91% | 10% | E | 1 mph | 3 mph | 67% | — | — | ||||
| Sun 6 AM | Chance of very light rain showers | 47° | 47° | 45° | 92% | 10% | ENE | 1 mph | 3 mph | 67% | — | — | ||||
| Sun 7 AM | 47° | 47° | 46° | 93% | 7% | ENE | 1 mph | 3 mph | 64% | — | — | |||||
| Sun 8 AM | 50° | 50° | 49° | 95% | 7% | ENE | 1 mph | 5 mph | 52% | — | — | |||||
| Sun 9 AM | 55° | 55° | 52° | 89% | 7% | E | 0 mph | 3 mph | 58% | — | — | |||||
| Sun 10 AM | 60° | 60° | 54° | 79% | 5% | E | 1 mph | 3 mph | 57% | — | — | |||||
| Sun 11 AM | 64° | 64° | 54° | 70% | 5% | E | 1 mph | 3 mph | 59% | — | — | |||||
| Sun 12 PM | 66° | 66° | 54° | 64% | 5% | ENE | 0 mph | 3 mph | 53% | — | — | |||||
| Sun 1 PM | 68° | 68° | 53° | 60% | 3% | ENE | 1 mph | 3 mph | 55% | — | — | |||||
| Sun 2 PM | 69° | 69° | 54° | 60% | 3% | ENE | 1 mph | 5 mph | 46% | — | — | |||||
| Sun 3 PM | 69° | 69° | 54° | 59% | 3% | NE | 2 mph | 5 mph | 40% | — | — | |||||
| Sun 4 PM | 69° | 69° | 53° | 58% | 3% | NNE | 2 mph | 5 mph | 30% | — | — | |||||
| Sun 5 PM | 68° | 68° | 54° | 61% | 3% | NNE | 3 mph | 5 mph | 26% | — | — | |||||
| Sun 6 PM | 65° | 65° | 55° | 69% | 3% | NNE | 2 mph | 5 mph | 21% | — | — | |||||
| Sun 7 PM | 61° | 61° | 54° | 77% | 0% | NNE | 3 mph | 6 mph | 42% | — | — | |||||
| Sun 8 PM | 59° | 59° | 54° | 84% | 0% | NNE | 2 mph | 5 mph | 41% | — | — | |||||
| Sun 9 PM | 58° | 58° | 54° | 87% | 0% | NE | 2 mph | 5 mph | 40% | — | — | |||||
| Sun 10 PM | 56° | 56° | 53° | 89% | 0% | NE | 2 mph | 5 mph | 40% | — | — | |||||
| Sun 11 PM | 55° | 55° | 52° | 91% | 0% | NE | 1 mph | 5 mph | 38% | — | — | |||||
| Mon 12 AM | 53° | 53° | 51° | 93% | 0% | NE | 0 mph | 3 mph | 37% | — | — | |||||
| Mon 1 AM | 52° | 52° | 51° | 94% | 0% | N | 0 mph | 2 mph | 36% | — | — | |||||
| Mon 2 AM | 52° | 52° | 50° | 94% | 0% | NNE | 0 mph | 3 mph | 38% | — | — | |||||
| Mon 3 AM | 51° | 51° | 49° | 94% | 0% | NNE | 0 mph | 3 mph | 40% | — | — |
The next 16 days
NWS grid published Sep 26, 1:21 AM CDT to day 8, the National Blend of Models to day 10, the mean of GFS, ECMWF, ECMWF AI to day 16- TodaySep 2667°47°Mostly Sunnywind 7 mph · gusts 13 mph
- SunSep 2769°49°Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunnywind 3 mph
- MonSep 2870°51°Mostly Sunnywind 2 mph
- TueSep 2971°58°Partly Sunny then Chance Rain Showerswind 9 mph
- WedSep 3068°59°Rain Showers Likelywind 9 mph · gusts 16 mph
- ThuOct 168°54°Showers And Thunderstorms Likelywind 10 mph · gusts 17 mph
- FriOct 266°55°Chance Rain Showerswind 8 mph
- SatOct 367°55°wind 8 mph · gusts 14 mph
- SunOct 463°48°National Blendwind 10 mph · gusts 16 mph
- MonOct 560°47°National Blendwind 8 mph
- TueOct 6~62°43°Model mean
- WedOct 7~67°45°Model mean
- ThuOct 8~67°49°Model mean
- FriOct 9~62°46°Model mean
- SatOct 10~61°45°Model mean
- SunOct 11~47°33°Model mean
Right now
NWS grid for this hour · UV from the EPA · air quality from AirNow- Feels like47°
- WindE 3 mphgusts 9 mph
- Radar over this pointno reading
- Humidity97%
- Dew point48°
- Pressure—
- UV index—
- Air quality—
- Visibility—
- Sunrise and sunsetSunrise · Sunset · not yet up
- Moonrise6:35 PMMoonset 6:43 AM
- Moon phaseFull moon100% lit
The National Blend of Models
NOAA NBM v5.0 · run of Sep 26, 1:00 AM CDTNOAA’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.
- TodaySep 2667°47°NWS grid 67° / 47°wind 6 mph
- SunSep 2769°49°NWS grid 69° / 49°wind 3 mph
- MonSep 2870°51°NWS grid 70° / 51°wind 2 mph
- TueSep 2970°58°NWS grid 71° / 58°wind 8 mph · gusts 14 mph
- WedSep 3068°59°NWS grid 68° / 59°wind 9 mph · gusts 16 mph
- ThuOct 168°54°NWS grid 68° / 54°wind 10 mph · gusts 17 mph
- FriOct 266°55°NWS grid 66° / 55°wind 8 mph
- SatOct 367°54°NWS grid 67° / 55°wind 9 mph
- SunOct 463°48°Beyond the NWS gridwind 10 mph · gusts 16 mph
- MonOct 560°47°Beyond the NWS gridwind 8 mph
- TueOct 661°—Beyond the NWS gridwind 9 mph
BlendNWS gridChance of rain, hourly
The models, side by side
HRRR Sep 26, 1:00 AM CDT · GFS Sep 25, 7:00 PM CDT · GEFS Sep 25, 7:00 PM CDT · ECMWF Sep 25, 7:00 PM CDT · ECMWF AI Sep 25, 7:00 PM CDTEach 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.
| Day | NWS grid | HRRR | GFS | GEFS | ECMWF | ECMWF AI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today Sep 26 | 67° 47° | 68° 49° | 69° 49° | 68° 49° | 68° 50° | ~69° 48° |
| Sun Sep 27 | 69° 49° | 69° 49° | 71° 49° | 71° 50° | 69° 49° | ~71° 48° |
| Mon Sep 28 | 70° 51° | ~61° 60° | 73° 50° | 72° 52° | 65° 50° | ~73° 52° |
| Tue Sep 29 | 71° 58° | — | 71° 54°0.47 in | 71° 53°0.23 in | 72° 53°0.07 in | ~74° 51°0.01 in |
| Wed Sep 30 | 68° 59° | — | 72° 59° | 68° 61°0.40 in | 67° 61°0.48 in | ~67° 62°0.86 in |
| Thu Oct 1 | 68° 54° | — | 70° 64°1.09 in | 70° 59°0.27 in | 70° 64°0.15 in | ~68° 65°0.83 in |
| Fri Oct 2 | 66° 55° | — | 65° 53°0.29 in | 67° 57°0.33 in | ~66° 60° | ~65° 57° |
| Sat Oct 3 | 67° 55° | — | 67° 52° | 68° 57°0.23 in | ~65° 52° | ~65° 53° |
| Sun Oct 4 | — | — | 64° 53°0.03 in | 62° 52°0.09 in | ~64° 47° | ~65° 52° |
| Mon Oct 5 | — | — | 54° 41° | 58° 46°0.05 in | ~62° 52° | ~66° 50° |
| Tue Oct 6 | — | — | ~57° 38° | — | ~60° 43° | ~69° 47° |
| Wed Oct 7 | — | — | ~63° 45° | — | ~65° 46° | ~72° 45° |
| Thu Oct 8 | — | — | ~55° 44°0.08 in | — | ~70° 53° | ~77° 52° |
| Fri Oct 9 | — | — | ~48° 40° | — | ~60° 48° | ~77° 49° |
| Sat Oct 10 | — | — | ~56° 38° | — | ~61° 43° | ~65° 53° |
| Sun Oct 11 | — | — | ~47° 33° | — | — | — |
A ~ marks a high or low read from six-hourly steps, which miss the true extreme by a degree or two.
ECMWF ensemble meteogram
The next 90 days
NOAA GHCN normals and records at Rockford (RFD) · Climate Prediction Center outlooksNo 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.
Forecast high and lowNormal high and lowRecord high and lowCPC leans warmer than normalCPC near normal or equal chances
| Week of | Normal | Warmest on record | Coldest on record | Temperature lean | Precipitation lean |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 26 | 69° / 46° | 94° (1953) | 23° (2003) | no outlook | no outlook |
| Oct 3 | 67° / 45° | 90° (1997) | 23° (1952) | near normal most likely · days 8 to 14 | near normal most likely · days 8 to 14 |
| Oct 10 | 64° / 41° | 87° (1975) | 22° (1988) | 33% chance above normal · Oct 2026 | equal chances · Oct 2026 |
| Oct 17 | 61° / 39° | 86° (1953) | 18° (1992) | 33% chance above normal · Oct 2026 | equal chances · Oct 2026 |
| Oct 24 | 54° / 37° | 81° (2023) | 15° (1952) | 33% chance above normal · Oct 2026 | equal chances · Oct 2026 |
| Oct 31 | 53° / 33° | 77° (2016) | 5° (1951) | 40% chance above normal · Oct to Dec | equal chances · Oct to Dec |
| Nov 7 | 51° / 32° | 77° (2020) | 3° (1986) | 40% chance above normal · Oct to Dec | equal chances · Oct to Dec |
| Nov 14 | 45° / 31° | 73° (1971) | -0° (1959) | 40% chance above normal · Oct to Dec | equal chances · Oct to Dec |
| Nov 21 | 43° / 27° | 69° (2010) | -10° (1977) | 40% chance above normal · Oct to Dec | equal chances · Oct to Dec |
| Nov 28 | 39° / 24° | 69° (2012) | -6° (1976) | 40% chance above normal · Oct to Dec | equal chances · Oct to Dec |
| Dec 5 | 34° / 20° | 67° (2001) | -18° (1972) | 40% chance above normal · Oct to Dec | equal chances · Oct to Dec |
| Dec 12 | 36° / 21° | 69° (2021) | -17° (1983) | 40% chance above normal · Oct to Dec | equal chances · Oct to Dec |
| Dec 19 | 33° / 21° | 62° (2020) | -24° (1983) | 40% chance above normal · Oct to Dec | equal 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 pollenNone 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
- RunningtodayIdealfine conditions
- HikingtodayIdealfine conditions
- BikingtodayIdealfine conditions
- GolftodayIdealfine conditions
- FishingtodayIdealfine conditions
- Boating and paddlingtodayIdealfine conditions
- Beach and pooltodayGoodcool
- CampingtonightIdealfine conditions
- StargazingtonightPoorbright moon
Travel
- Air travelnext 24 hIdealclear skies
- Drivingnext 24 hIdealclear roads
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 moonTonight has no dark, clear hour without a bright moon in this forecast. Rated poor.
| Night of | Rating | Dark | Clear hours | Clear and moonless | Moon lit | Transparency (est.) | Dew | Strongest wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday | Poor | 8:20 PM to 5:15 AM | 0 of 9 | None | 100% | 3 h | 5 mph | |
| Sunday | Poor | 8:18 PM to 5:16 AM | 0 of 9 | None | 98% | 7 h | 2 mph | |
| Monday | Fair | 8:16 PM to 5:18 AM | 6 of 9 | None | 93% | Poor | 7 h | 2 mph |
| Tuesday | Poor | 8:15 PM to 5:19 AM | 0 of 9 | None | 87% | 5 h | 7 mph | |
| Wednesday | Poor | 8:13 PM to 5:20 AM | 0 of 9 | None | 79% | 8 h | 7 mph | |
| Thursday | Poor | 8:11 PM to 5:21 AM | 0 of 9 | None | 70% | 7 h | 7 mph | |
| Friday | Poor | 8:09 PM to 5:22 AM | 0 of 9 | None | 60% | 6 h | 5 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| Day | Blue hour, morning | Golden hour, morning | Golden hour, evening | Blue hour, evening |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat | 6:20 AM to 6:31 AM | 6:31 AM to 7:25 AM | 6:09 PM to 7:04 PM | 7:04 PM to 7:14 PM |
| Sun | 6:21 AM to 6:32 AM | 6:32 AM to 7:26 AM | 6:08 PM to 7:02 PM | 7:02 PM to 7:13 PM |
| Mon | 6:22 AM to 6:33 AM | 6:33 AM to 7:27 AM | 6:06 PM to 7:00 PM | 7:00 PM to 7:11 PM |
| Tue | 6:23 AM to 6:34 AM | 6:34 AM to 7:29 AM | 6:04 PM to 6:58 PM | 6:58 PM to 7:09 PM |
| Wed | 6:24 AM to 6:35 AM | 6:35 AM to 7:30 AM | 6:02 PM to 6:57 PM | 6:57 PM to 7:07 PM |
| Thu | 6:26 AM to 6:36 AM | 6:36 AM to 7:31 AM | 6:00 PM to 6:55 PM | 6:55 PM to 7:06 PM |
| Fri | 6:27 AM to 6:37 AM | 6:37 AM to 7:32 AM | 5:59 PM to 6:53 PM | 6:53 PM to 7:04 PM |
- SR Sunrise 6:48 AM, 91° E
- SS Sunset 6:46 PM, 269° W
- MR Moonrise 6:35 PM, 82° E
- MS Moonset 6:43 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 107This hour: fly with caution (gusts near or over your limit, night: lighting and night training required (107.29)). Next good stretch: Sat 7 AM to 6 PM, 11 hours.
Today: civil twilight for Part 107 6:18 AM to sunrise 6:48 AM, and sunset 6:46 PM to 7:16 PM. Anti-collision lighting is required in those minutes and at night.
| Sat | 6 AM | 12 PM | 6 PM | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 12 AM | 6 AM | 12 PM | 6 PM | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Mon | 12 AM | 6 AM | 12 PM | 6 PM |
Good Caution No-fly
| Hour | Verdict | Wind (mph) | 400 ft est. (mph) | Gust (mph) | Rain | Visibility | Cloud allows | Temp | Kp | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 4 AM | Caution | 3 | 14 | 19 | 0% | 48° | gusts near or over your limit, night: lighting and night training required (107.29) | |||
| Sat 5 AM | Caution | 3 | 14 | 19 | 0% | 49° | gusts near or over your limit, night: lighting and night training required (107.29) | |||
| Sat 6 AM | Caution | 3 | 14 | 19 | 0% | 49° | gusts near or over your limit, night: lighting and night training required (107.29) | |||
| Sat 7 AM | Good | 3 | 4 | 9 | 0% | 48° | nothing against it | |||
| Sat 8 AM | Good | 3 | 4 | 10 | 0% | 52° | nothing against it | |||
| Sat 9 AM | Good | 6 | 7 | 14 | 0% | 56° | nothing against it | |||
| Sat 10 AM | Good | 7 | 9 | 15 | 0% | 60° | nothing against it | |||
| Sat 11 AM | Good | 7 | 9 | 12 | 0% | 63° | nothing against it | |||
| Sat 12 PM | Good | 7 | 9 | 10 | 0% | 65° | nothing against it | |||
| Sat 1 PM | Good | 6 | 7 | 9 | 0% | 66° | nothing against it | |||
| Sat 2 PM | Good | 6 | 7 | 9 | 0% | 67° | nothing against it | |||
| Sat 3 PM | Good | 6 | 7 | 9 | 0% | 67° | nothing against it | |||
| Sat 4 PM | Good | 6 | 7 | 10 | 0% | 67° | nothing against it | |||
| Sat 5 PM | Good | 6 | 7 | 10 | 0% | 66° | nothing against it | |||
| Sat 6 PM | Caution | 5 | 6 | 9 | 1% | 63° | civil twilight: lighting required (107.29) | |||
| Sat 7 PM | Caution | 6 | 14 | 17 | 2% | 59° | night: lighting and night training required (107.29) | |||
| Sat 8 PM | Caution | 5 | 11 | 16 | 2% | 57° | night: lighting and night training required (107.29) | |||
| Sat 9 PM | Caution | 5 | 11 | 16 | 2% | 55° | night: lighting and night training required (107.29) | |||
| Sat 10 PM | Caution | 5 | 11 | 17 | 4% | 53° | night: lighting and night training required (107.29) | |||
| Sat 11 PM | Caution | 3 | 8 | 13 | 4% | 52° | night: lighting and night training required (107.29) | |||
| Sun 12 AM | Caution | 2 | 6 | 9 | 4% | 51° | night: lighting and night training required (107.29) | |||
| Sun 1 AM | Caution | 2 | 6 | 9 | 6% | 50° | night: lighting and night training required (107.29) | |||
| Sun 2 AM | Caution | 1 | 3 | 6 | 6% | 49° | night: lighting and night training required (107.29) | |||
| Sun 3 AM | Caution | 1 | 3 | 6 | 6% | 48° | 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 forecastHours 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 9 AM to 10 PM 13 hours, every hour within the rules
- Tue 10 AM to 3 PM 5 hours, every hour within the rules
- Fri 1 PM to 8 PM 7 hours, every hour within the rules
- Sat 1 PM to 4 PM 3 hours, every hour within the rules
| Sat | 6 AM | 12 PM | 6 PM | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 12 AM | 6 AM | 12 PM | 6 PM | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Mon | 12 AM | 6 AM | 12 PM | 6 PM | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Tue | 12 AM | 6 AM | 12 PM | 6 PM |
Good Marginal No
Field days
| Day | Daytime | Chance of rain | Rain | Lowest humidity | Strongest wind | Dry days in a row | Hay drying |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday | Dry | 2% | 0.00 in | 53% | 7 mph | 3 d | |
| Sunday | Dry | 7% | 0.00 in | 58% | 3 mph | 2 d | |
| Monday | Dry | 0% | 0.00 in | 58% | 2 mph | 1 d | |
| Tuesday | Showers possible | 56% | 0.00 in | 62% | 9 mph | ||
| Wednesday | Showers possible | 57% | 0.00 in | 80% | 9 mph | ||
| Thursday | Showers possible | 56% | 0.00 in | 75% | 10 mph | ||
| Friday | Showers possible | 36% | 0.00 in | 69% | 8 mph | ||
| Saturday | Showers possible | 31% | 0.00 in | 75% | 8 mph |
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 positionThe best-rated day this week is Saturday, rated best.
| Day | Rating | Major periods | Minor periods | Moon | Sunrise, sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat | Best | 11:22 PM to 1:22 AM11:45 AM to 1:45 PM | 6:13 AM to 7:13 AM6:05 PM to 7:05 PM | 100% | 6:48 AM, 6:46 PM |
| Sun | Best | 12:08 AM to 2:08 AM12:31 PM to 2:31 PM | 7:24 AM to 8:24 AM6:28 PM to 7:28 PM | 99% | 6:49 AM, 6:45 PM |
| Mon | Good | 12:56 AM to 2:56 AM1:21 PM to 3:21 PM | 8:39 AM to 9:39 AM6:55 PM to 7:55 PM | 95% | 6:50 AM, 6:43 PM |
| Tue | Good | 1:48 AM to 3:48 AM2:15 PM to 4:15 PM | 9:56 AM to 10:56 AM7:27 PM to 8:27 PM | 90% | 6:51 AM, 6:41 PM |
| Wed | Poor | 2:44 AM to 4:44 AM3:14 PM to 5:14 PM | 11:13 AM to 12:13 PM8:09 PM to 9:09 PM | 82% | 6:52 AM, 6:39 PM |
| Thu | Fair | 3:44 AM to 5:44 AM4:15 PM to 6:15 PM | 12:27 PM to 1:27 PM9:02 PM to 10:02 PM | 73% | 6:54 AM, 6:38 PM |
| Fri | Fair | 4:47 AM to 6:47 AM5:18 PM to 7:18 PM | 1:32 PM to 2:32 PM10:06 PM to 11:06 PM | 64% | 6:55 AM, 6:36 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 issuedOvernight48° · E 5 mph
Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. East wind around 5 mph.
Saturday67° · ESE 5 mph
Mostly sunny, with a high near 67. East southeast wind around 5 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.
Saturday Night47° · 10% · E 0–5 mph
A chance of rain showers after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. East wind 0 to 5 mph, with gusts as high as 10 mph.
Sunday69° · 10% · ENE 0–5 mph
A chance of rain showers before 7am. Partly sunny, with a high near 69. East northeast wind 0 to 5 mph.
Sunday Night49° · 3% · NNE 0–5 mph
Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. North northeast wind 0 to 5 mph.
Monday70° · 0 mph
Mostly sunny, with a high near 70.
Monday Night51° · 0 mph
Mostly clear, with a low around 51.
Tuesday71° · 26% · SSE 0–10 mph
A chance of rain showers after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 71.
Tuesday Night58° · 68% · S 5 mph
Rain showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58.
Wednesday68° · 68% · S 10 mph
Rain showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 68.
Wednesday Night59° · 63% · SSE 5–10 mph
A chance of rain showers before 7pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59.
Thursday68° · 63% · SSE 5–10 mph
Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68.
Thursday Night54° · 50% · S 5–10 mph
A chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54.
Friday66° · 36% · WSW 5–10 mph
A chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66.
The forecaster’s discussion
NWS Chicago, IL · issued Sep 26, 1:57 AM CDTWritten 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
157 AM CDT Sat Sep 26 2026
A Rex block comprised of expansive ridging/high pressure over the Great Lakes, eastern Ontario, and southwestern Quebec and a deep coastal low/nor'easter just off the Mid-Atlantic coast will lead to tranquil conditions here locally over the weekend and into early next week. Seasonable temperatures for late September with highs in the mid 60s to mid 70s and lows in the mid 40s to mid 50s can be expected while the blocking pattern is in place and keeps the same air mass locked in over the region.
One prominent shortwave presently over the central Plains will attempt to lift northeastward into the western Great Lakes tonight but will be stymied as it encounters the aforementioned Great Lakes ridge. A steady feed of dry low-mid-level air along the southern flank of the ridge should erode the associated shower activity as it attempts to enter our forecast area while its main forcing source is quickly weakened. A few of the latest high-resolution model runs suggest that these showers/sprinkles could get as far east as the I-39 corridor or so late tonight into Sunday morning before fading for good, though the majority of the latest forecast guidance generally favors this activity staying fenced off just to the west of our westernmost counties.
By midweek, the eastern CONUS Rex block will have broken down, allowing for a more progressive weather pattern to take shape. A deep, positively-tilted longwave Pacific trough will evolve into a cut-off upper low over the Desert Southwest Monday into Tuesday, while a separate shortwave component of this trough breaks off and continues to progress towards the Great Lakes. As this shortwave disturbance arrives in the region in tandem with a frontal zone and an influx of column moisture, a period of rain appears likely to occur in our area sometime late Tuesday into Wednesday. There is a fair amount of ensemble support for a modest amount of instability building into our area during this time period, suggesting that there could be some potential for thunderstorms. However, this support is far from unanimous at this point.
How things will play out for late Wednesday and beyond will hinge heavily upon a complex interaction between the aforementioned upper low and the remnants of Pacific Hurricane Polo. Ensemble guidance broadly favors another period of rain (or perhaps just one, drawn-out period of rainfall beginning with the late Tuesday/Wednesday precipitation) occurring here during the latter half of the week as these atmospheric features lift northeastward towards the Midwest and induce a poleward surge of combined Gulf and Pacific moisture. Unsurprisingly though, there is still quite a bit of spread across the latest global ensemble suites in exactly when any additional rainfall may occur here and how much rain we'll get. The broad-brushed chance and lower-end likely PoPs offered up by the NBM for the first few days of October thus seem to look appropriate for now.
Ogorek
Aviation · 06Z TAFs Through 12Z Sunday
1245 AM CDT Sat Sep 26 2026
There remains a very low potential for patchy shallow BR (MIFG) outside of Chicago early this morning, however, the potential remains too low to include with this update. Otherwise VFR conditions are forecast through the period with increasing high cloud coverage expected through midday.
Light ENE to at times variable winds early this morning may briefly turn ESE after daybreak before returning to an east direction late morning and back to ENE in the wake of a weak lake breeze in the afternoon around 5-10 kt. Winds then ease again after sunset, becoming light and variable under 5 kt through early Sunday morning.
Petr
LOT Watches / Warnings / Advisories
IL...None. IN...None. LM...None.
Hazardous weather outlook Sep 26, 2:35 AM CDT
The office’s own seven-day heads-up for spotters and emergency managers.
FLUS43 KLOT 260735 HWOLOT Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville IL 235 AM CDT Sat Sep 26 2026 ILZ003>006-008-010>013-019>021-023-032-033-039-103>108-INZ001-002- 010-011-019-270745- 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- 235 AM CDT Sat Sep 26 2026 /335 AM EDT Sat Sep 26 2026/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central Illinois...northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Tuesday through Thursday... Limited Thunderstorm Risk. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be necessary through tonight. $$ LMZ740>745-270745- Winthrop Harbor to Wilmette Harbor IL- Wilmette Harbor to Northerly Island IL- Northerly Island to Calumet Harbor IL- Calumet Harbor IL to Gary IN-Gary to Burns Harbor IN- Burns Harbor to Michigan City IN- 235 AM CDT Sat Sep 26 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of the Illinois nearshore waters of Lake Michigan and the Indiana nearshore waters of Lake Michigan. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Tuesday through Thursday... Limited Thunderstorm Risk. $$ Ogorek Visit us at www.weather.gov/chicago
The outlooks beyond
SPC, WPC, CPC and the Drought Monitor, read at this pointThe national centers each publish a judgment the local grid does not carry. Read here at this exact coordinate.
Severe weather
- Day 1 · Sat Sep 26No risk area
- Day 2 · Sun Sep 27No risk area
- Day 3 · Mon Sep 28No risk area
- Day 4 · Tue Sep 29No risk area
- Day 5 · Wed Sep 30No risk area
- Day 6 · Thu Oct 1No risk area
- Day 7 · Fri Oct 2No risk area
- Day 8 · Sat Oct 3No risk area
Rainfall
- Day 1 · Sat Sep 26Under 0.01 in
- Day 2 · Sun Sep 27Under 0.01 in
- Day 3 · Mon Sep 28Under 0.01 in
- Day 4-5 · Sep 29–Sep 301.00 in
- Day 6-7 · Oct 1–Oct 20.75 in
Flash flood risk
- Day 1 · Sat Sep 26Below marginal
- Day 2 · Sun Sep 27Below marginal
- Day 3 · Mon Sep 28Below marginal
- Day 4 · Tue Sep 29Marginal
- Day 5 · Wed Sep 30Marginal
Six to fourteen days
- Days 6–10 · Temperature50% chance above normalOct 1–Oct 5
- Days 6–10 · Precipitation40% chance above normalOct 1–Oct 5
- Days 8–14 · TemperatureNear normal most likelyOct 3–Oct 9
- Days 8–14 · PrecipitationNear normal most likelyOct 3–Oct 9
Hazards, 3 to 14 days
- Wed Sep 30Heavy Rain
Drought
- 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, BeloitThe last spring freeze (32°F) usually comes around May 1 and the first fall freeze around October 12: a growing season of about 162 days.
One fall in ten brings a freeze by September 28; one spring in ten still has one after May 16.
Everything else on the grid
NWS forecast grid · 27 elementsThe 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.
| Element | Sat | Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wet bulb globe temperature max | 63° | 66° | 67° | 67° | 66° | 66° | 64° | 65° |
| Heat index max | 70° | 71° | ||||||
| Wind chill min | 47° | 47° | 49° | |||||
| Chance of thunder max | 0% | 0% | 0% | 12% | 16% | 16% | 7% | 9% |
| Mixing height max | 3,500 ft | 2,800 ft | 3,600 ft | 2,000 ft | 2,200 ft | 2,300 ft | 2,200 ft | |
| Transport wind max | 10 mph | 9 mph | 8 mph | 13 mph | 12 mph | 13 mph | 13 mph | |
| Twenty-foot wind max | 6 mph | 3 mph | 2 mph | 8 mph | 9 mph | 9 mph | 8 mph | 8 mph |
Against the record
NOAA GHCN · Rockford (RFD) · 12 mi awayEach 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.
| Day | Forecast | Normal | Record high | Record low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat Sep 26 | 67° / 47° | 72° / 50° | 90° (1998) | 32° (1975) |
| Sun Sep 27 | 69° / 49° | 70° / 48° | 90° (2021) | 30° (1991) |
| Mon Sep 28 | 70° / 51° | 68° / 47° | 91° (1952) | 32° (1991) |
| Tue Sep 29 | 71° / 58° | 69° / 46° | 94° (1953) | 29° (1984) |
| Wed Sep 30 | 68° / 59° | 71° / 47° | 92° (1971) | 27° (1984) |
| Thu Oct 1 | 68° / 54° | 70° / 47° | 90° (1971) | 28° (2003) |
| Fri Oct 2 | 66° / 55° | 68° / 47° | 88° (1971) | 23° (2003) |
| Sat Oct 3 | 67° / 55° | 68° / 48° | 90° (1997) | 28° (1952) |
Sun and moon
| Day | Civil twilight | Sunrise | Sunset | Civil twilight | Daylight | Moon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat | 6:20 AM | 6:48 AM | 6:46 PM | 7:14 PM | 11 h 58 min | Full moon · 100% lit |
| Sun | 6:21 AM | 6:49 AM | 6:45 PM | 7:13 PM | 11 h 56 min | Waning gibbous · 99% lit |
| Mon | 6:22 AM | 6:50 AM | 6:43 PM | 7:11 PM | 11 h 53 min | Waning gibbous · 95% lit |
| Tue | 6:23 AM | 6:51 AM | 6:41 PM | 7:09 PM | 11 h 50 min | Waning gibbous · 90% lit |
| Wed | 6:24 AM | 6:52 AM | 6:39 PM | 7:07 PM | 11 h 47 min | Waning gibbous · 82% lit |
| Thu | 6:26 AM | 6:54 AM | 6:38 PM | 7:06 PM | 11 h 44 min | Waning gibbous · 73% lit |
| Fri | 6:27 AM | 6:55 AM | 6:36 PM | 7:04 PM | 11 h 41 min | Waning gibbous · 64% lit |
| Sat | 6:28 AM | 6:56 AM | 6:34 PM | 7:02 PM | 11 h 38 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