Illinois — A slick sheen coats roads before dawn as steady rain taps across parking lots and glistens on windshields around Champaign. The cool, damp air carries that familiar November weight as the first big push of Thanksgiving travel begins along I-74 and Route 45. Drivers should watch for brief ponding on shoulders and slower traffic as heavier pulses move in.
The National Weather Service notes a few thunderstorms may mix in early, which could bring small hail and momentarily reduce visibility. Lighting and gusty winds may create quick hazards near open fields and interchanges. Travelers heading out at daybreak should leave early and maintain extra distance, especially on rural connectors between Mahomet, Savoy, and Monticello.
Clouds hold firm later today as winds shift northeast. Temperatures stay cool but stable. Wednesday turns calmer, with highs in the lower 50s under mostly cloudy skies. To be fair, it’s a decent window for local errands and early holiday supply runs.
Thursday brings a milder push, with highs surging toward the upper 50s and a small rain chance late. Models hint at a subtle “Winter Tease” by Friday as temperatures dip and scattered showers return. No snow is expected this week across central Illinois, and the region sits well south of the early-season flakes seen farther north in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Iowa. Still, colder air Saturday morning may create a crisp start for outdoor tasks like leaf cleanup or early Christmas decorating.
Looking toward Thanksgiving weekend, the pattern stays mostly dry, though one quick shower cannot be ruled out Sunday. Holiday travelers should expect light winds, seasonable chill, and improving driving conditions across most of central and east-central Illinois.
