Illinois — Faint city lights bounce off low clouds this early morning, giving the skyline a hazy silver glow while cool air settles along Lake Michigan. Pavement stays mostly dry, but dampness clings to the breeze—an early sign of the wetter pattern pushing toward the Chicago area as Thanksgiving travel begins to accelerate.
Travelers should prepare for Tuesday rain, which may slow traffic on I-90, I-94, and Lake Shore Drive from the early morning commute through midday. Drivers should expect pockets of reduced visibility near the lake and on bridges as drizzle evolves into steadier rain. Residents heading out early for holiday trips should plan extra time, especially north toward Milwaukee and south toward Joliet.
Today brings increasing clouds and a steady rise into the mid-40s. Conditions remain manageable, and to be fair, travel impacts stay low until late tonight when moisture thickens ahead of Tuesday’s system. Winds ease during the morning, leaving the air cool but calm.
Tuesday delivers the first meaningful precipitation of the week. Models hint at a widespread, chilly rain with new totals between a tenth and a quarter inch—enough to slick roads and slow traffic heading toward O’Hare and Midway. Temperatures hover in the low-40s, ruling out any Winter Tease of snow for now, though the air will feel brisk as northeast winds strengthen.
Wednesday turns cloudy and slightly warmer, reaching the upper-40s as travel volume spikes. While precipitation stays minimal during the day, thicker clouds signal another round of rain late Wednesday night into Thursday. That system could affect regional Thanksgiving departures, especially heading toward northwest Indiana.
Late-week weather remains unsettled. Rain likely returns Thursday night and Friday, though storms stay non-severe. The weekend offers some relief, with partly sunny skies Saturday and warmer readings on Sunday—good news for return travelers after the holiday.
