CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Frost sparkles across fields and car windshields this morning, a crisp reminder that November’s chill has settled in. Calm winds and clear skies have pushed temperatures into the upper 20s across central Illinois, but a sharp warm-up begins within hours.
According to the National Weather Service in Lincoln, sunshine will dominate today and Monday, with temperatures steadily climbing from near-freezing dawns to afternoon highs in the upper 50s to low 60s. A light southwest breeze develops through the day, signaling the start of a milder pattern stretching into midweek.
By Tuesday, highs could reach the mid-60s, a comfortable window for outdoor work, late leaf cleanup, or early holiday decorating. Winds will increase slightly, gusting up to 20 mph, but skies should stay mostly sunny and dry. Travelers along I-57 and U.S. 150 can expect good visibility and ideal road conditions through at least Wednesday.
After midweek, attention turns to an approaching system that may bring scattered rain chances Thursday into Friday. Temperatures are expected to stay seasonable, hovering in the 60s before a cooler air mass potentially returns next weekend — a classic early sign of the region’s transition toward winter.
NOAA’s La Niña Advisory continues to highlight a pattern of quick temperature swings and regional cold snaps through December. For now, though, Illinois sits in a pleasant fall lull — chilly dawns, golden afternoons, and calm skies marking a brief break before late-season changes resume later in November.
Five-Day Forecast for Champaign, IL:
Sun: 55/35 – Sunny; light south breeze.
Mon: 62/35 – Sunny; breezy west winds.
Tue: 65/47 – Mostly sunny; mild and dry.
Wed: 67/35 – Sunny; seasonal warmth.
Thu: 63/47 – Partly cloudy; late rain chance.
