Champaign, IL – A blanket of dense fog spreads across east-central Illinois this morning, softening fields and dimming headlights from Piatt to Lawrence County. Visibility may drop quickly, especially along I-70 and surrounding rural routes, making early travel slow and uncertain.
According to the National Weather Service in Lincoln, fog is expected to lift through late morning as light winds calm. Temperatures will hover near the lower 50s under mostly clear skies through Sunday before clouds increase and rain moves in by Monday. Commuters should prepare for slick pavement and slower drives, particularly during the Monday evening rush.
Rain chances rise sharply Monday night, with models pointing to a 90% likelihood of steady showers. Winds shift southerly, gusting up to 16 mph, pulling in mild air before a notable cooldown midweek. By Wednesday, highs drop to the low 40s, and Thanksgiving Day looks brisk but mostly dry — a good setup for morning travel or outdoor gatherings, though cooler air will bite by sunset.
While central Illinois stays rain-focused, long-range outlooks hint at a possible “winter tease” across parts of the Midwest between November 25 and December 3. Forecasters are watching for a broader cold front that could bring heavy snow to northern states and chill much of the country — a pattern worth watching for post-Thanksgiving travelers.
Five-Day Outlook (Champaign, IL)
- Sunday: Sunny, high 55°F
- Monday: Cloudy, high 54°F; rain develops late
- Tuesday: Rain tapering, high 60°F
- Wednesday: Partly sunny, high 44°F
- Thanksgiving Day: Mostly sunny, high 39°F; breezy and colder
