Illinois starts the morning under low clouds as drizzle clings to cold pavement.
Streetlights blur through mist, and brake lights glow early. This Weather matters now because holiday travel is underway, and visibility issues can slow traffic fast.
According to the National Weather Service in Chicago, areas of drizzle and patchy fog develop today. Visibility may drop at times, especially before midday. Temperatures hold near 43 degrees, keeping roads damp rather than icy for now.
Drizzle lingers into tonight, with fog redeveloping late. Drivers should expect changing visibility on I-90, I-94, and Lake Shore Drive. Use headlights and allow extra stopping distance.
Christmas Day stays cloudy and cool. Highs reach near 40 degrees, with dry conditions most of the day. While snow is absent, gray skies and lingering moisture keep pavement slick in shaded areas.
Rain chances increase Thursday night into Friday. Rain becomes likely by early Friday, with highs near 45 degrees. Wet roads may impact travel through the day, especially during morning and afternoon traffic peaks.
By Friday night, clouds hang on, and temperatures settle into the upper 30s. Roads may not dry fully before colder air arrives this weekend.
Saturday brings mostly cloudy skies with highs near 45 degrees, lining up with post-Christmas travel on Saturday, December 27. Conditions look manageable, but lingering moisture raises concern once colder air returns.
A sharper temperature drop arrives late Sunday into early next week. Overnight lows plunge into the teens. Any leftover moisture could freeze quickly after dark, creating black ice risks on bridges and ramps.
While major winter storms target other regions, Chicago’s hazards come quietly through fog, drizzle, and timing.
Five-Day Outlook – Chicago, IL
• Today: Drizzle and fog, high near 43°
• Christmas Day: Cloudy, high near 40°
• Thursday: Rain likely late, low near 36°
• Friday: Rain likely, high near 45°
• Saturday: Mostly cloudy, high near 45°
