Current Weather Conditions and Forecast
Current Conditions
The current weather conditions are characterized by unseasonably cool temperatures, with clouds breaking and skies gradually becoming clear. The winds are diminishing, with a west wind subsiding to 5-10 mph late. The low temperature is expected to be around 46, with the coolest inland locations experiencing temperatures in the low 40s.
The Next Few Hours
In the next few hours, the weather is expected to remain cool, with a brief period of cloud coverage riding in from the northwest as a weak disturbance passes to the north. There is a slight chance of errant sprinkles clipping northern parts of the metro area, but most areas will remain dry.
Saturday Highs
Unseasonably chilly air continues for a third consecutive day, with highs more typical of the second week of October. The high temperature is expected to be in the mid-50s to low 60s, with the warmest temperatures near Lake Michigan.
Saturday Day Planner
Temperatures will moderate a bit by afternoon, following the chilly start to the day, but will fall well short of typical norms. The wind will be out of the northwest at 10-15 mph, with partly sunny skies.
Extended Outlook
The Chicago area is not alone in the early season chill, with low temperatures Saturday morning expected to dip near frost levels across portions of the northern Plains and Upper Midwest.
Sunburn Forecast
Saturday U.S. Morning Lows
Saturday Morning Lows & Departure from Normal
Saturday Highs
Summer heat persists across portions of the Pacific Northwest, Desert Southwest, Gulf Coast, Southeast, and portions of the Northeast, while the remainder of the country is getting an early taste of Fall.
Weather Maps
For the latest weather maps and forecasts, visit the WGN Weather Center website.
Climate & Environment
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Interactive Radar
Track the latest weather patterns with our interactive radar tool.
Weather Bug Cameras
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7-Day Outlook
Plan your week with our 7-day forecast, featuring detailed weather conditions and temperature forecasts.
Weather Center Newsletter
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Current Conditions
Next Few Hours
Extended Outlook
Chicago Forecast Highs & Departure from Normal
The early season cool spell has three more days to run, but a noticeable improvement is expected as we move into next week.
Upper-level Winds: Current vs Next Wednesday
Upper-level steering winds blowing in from Canada’s Yukon Territory will shift north and east with time, and a more west/southwest jet-stream flow will allow much warmer conditions by the middle of next week.
Forecast 850 millibar 10-day Temperature Anomaly Animation
Blue colors represent areas of cooler than normal, and orange and red colors depict areas of warmer than normal. The darker the shading, the more above or below normal temperatures are likely to be.
This technique is a good proxy indicator of how temperatures will respond at ground level. You can see by this animation that we are headed for much warmer weather next week following a chilly weekend.
Forecast Precipitation Next Seven Days
No help from Mother Nature for area lawns and gardens, as no measurable rainfall is expected across the Chicago area or even the entire state of Illinois and Indiana through at least next Friday night, September 12th.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the current weather conditions are characterized by unseasonably cool temperatures, with a brief period of cloud coverage expected in the next few
