Champaign, IL – The air feels crisp and still across campus this morning as the first light hits rows of harvest fields and frosted lawns. A cool north wind brushes across the plains — a reminder that November’s chill is knocking at the door.
According to the National Weather Service in Lincoln, today will stay mostly sunny with highs near 59°F and steady north winds up to 15 mph. Temperatures drop sharply this evening into the upper 30s, with calm and dry conditions expected through Friday.
Friday and Saturday bring another stretch of sunshine, though highs will slide into the lower 50s by the weekend. Morning lows dip into the low 30s, cold enough for scattered frost across open fields and shaded areas. Rural residents should protect plants and disconnect hoses as growing season ends across central Illinois.
By Sunday, skies remain mostly clear with highs rebounding near 57°F, but a colder trend begins setting up early next week. Long-range models continue to suggest a stronger Arctic push mid-November, raising the chance of Illinois’ first measurable snow between November 10 and 20.
Residents are encouraged to use this calm spell for yard work and pre-winter prep. After all, the steady chill of late fall will soon give way to Illinois’ first true winter transition, just in time for early November travel.
