Chicago, IL – Northern Illinois woke up to an early taste of fall Tuesday as morning temperatures dipped into the 40s across much of the region, the coldest late-August readings in years. Some of the lowest reports came from Rochelle at 40°, Rockford at 44°, and Lansing at 47°, while Chicago’s O’Hare bottomed out at 54°.
According to the National Weather Service in Chicago, these lows were the coldest since early June and more typical of late September or even October. Forecasters said the chill was widespread, with Kankakee, Pontiac, and Morris airports also recording 48°, and DuPage Airport at 48°.
The sudden drop follows last year’s stark contrast, when late August brought oppressive heat and humidity. This year, drivers, commuters, and early risers instead bundled up against brisk air that could linger through the week’s early mornings. The weather service advises residents to keep jackets handy for the next couple of days, particularly in outlying suburbs where temperatures will continue to run well below average.
Cool mornings are expected to hold before warmer afternoons return, keeping conditions comfortable but fall-like. More typical late-summer warmth is likely by the weekend, though no major heat is on the horizon.
