Current Weather Conditions
The current weather conditions are mainly clear, with some patchy smoke and haze. The temperature is expected to be warm, but the humidity remains fairly comfortable. The winds are blowing at a speed of NE 5-10 mph, and the low temperature is expected to be around 67/low 60s coolest inland locations.
The Next Few Hours
Wednesday is expected to begin with a fair amount of sunshine, but some cloud coverage will filter the sunshine later in the afternoon and evening. An Air Quality Alert continues another day through late Wednesday night as some smoke continues to encase area skies.
Air Quality Alert
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has issued an Air Pollution Action Day for Wednesday, August 6th, for the greater Chicago Metropolitan Area through Midnight Wednesday night. Ozone is expected to be the primary pollutant of concern, but wildfire smoke also is lingering in the region and may impact PM2.5 and Ozone AQI.
Wednesday High Temperatures/Winds
Daytime highs continue to warm over the previous day for the 5th consecutive day. Highs will surge well into the 80s inland, but slightly cooler conditions on area beaches and along the immediate lakeshore continue as light southeast winds slice off the lake.
Lake Michigan Water Temperatures and Beach Forecast
Lake Michigan water temperatures continue in the middle 70s, near summer’s peak. Light southeast winds will create a modest chop on the lake and shouldn’t have much impact for area boaters and swimmers with only 1-2 foot waves currently forecasted.
Wednesday Sunburn Forecast
Extended Outlook
August 2025 is about to change its cooler than normal character as late season heat takes hold across the area. Highs are forecast to reach at least 90-degrees Friday through Monday.
Forecast Highs
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Temperature Departure from Normal
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Forecast Average Maximum Temperature Departure from Normal
Chicago Highs and Departures from Normal
A string of above normal days on tap as we move forward the rest of the week and into next week.
Chicago Humidity Forecast
Humidity will slowly return in coming days but there will be no repeat of the oppressive levels observed at times last month.
Forecast 2m Temperature Anomaly Animation
Blue areas indicate cooler than normal temperatures while the orange and red areas indicate warmer than normal temperatures. You can see by this animation how we are headed towards a much warmer weather pattern in the days ahead.
Tropical Update
Dexter is going out to sea and is continuing to weaken, posing no threat to land but a couple other areas of disturbed weather are being monitored by the National Hurricane Center for potential development.
