CHAMPAIGN, Illinois – Thick fog rolled across the heart of Illinois early Friday, blanketing interstates and farmland in a soft gray haze. Visibility dropped below a quarter mile in several locations along I-57 and I-72, prompting a Dense Fog Advisory until 9 a.m. CST from the National Weather Service. Drivers heading toward Springfield, Bloomington, or Champaign are urged to slow down, use low beams, and allow extra space on slick, damp pavement.
Once the fog clears, conditions will remain cloudy as the next system approaches from the west. Rain chances climb through midday, with the heaviest activity expected from late afternoon into evening. Totals may range from 0.25 to 0.5 inches, just enough to dampen fields and slow travel ahead of a bright, dry weekend.
By Saturday, sunshine returns with calmer winds and highs in the lower 50s. Sunday stays sunny and seasonable near 58°F — perfect for last-minute leaf cleanup or early holiday decorating before another front brings showers Monday into Tuesday.
Looking ahead to Thanksgiving week, national models hint at a broader pattern shift. A surge of colder air could sweep across the Midwest and East Coast between November 25 and December 3, bringing a stronger chance of heavy snow — possibly 3″ to 8″ in northern states. Central Illinois will likely stay on the milder side but could see its first winter “tease” before December arrives.
Five-Day Forecast for Champaign, IL:
Fri: 51/35 – Fog early; rain late (0.25–0.5″).
Sat: 53/35 – Mostly sunny, mild.
Sun: 58/39 – Sunny, calm.
Mon: 57/40 – Mostly cloudy, light rain late.
Tue: 60/35 – Rain early; cooler trend begins.
