Illinois starts the morning with a crisp edge as sunlight reflects off Lake Michigan and thermometers hover near 35 degrees. The air feels calm and cool, but change is already building across Chicago.
Skies stay sunny through the day with highs climbing to 55 degrees. A light west-southwest wind shifts north this afternoon. Roads along I-55 and the Dan Ryan remain dry, and visibility is excellent for late-morning travel.
Tonight turns partly cloudy with lows near 34 degrees. Monday brings a February warm push. Highs reach 60 degrees as clouds gradually decrease. South winds may gust up to 25 mph, adding a breezy feel by afternoon.
Tuesday cools slightly with highs near 49 degrees under mostly cloudy skies. Conditions shift Tuesday night. A 70% chance of rain arrives after midnight, and a thunderstorm cannot be ruled out. Wet pavement and ponding may slow the Wednesday morning commute.
By Wednesday, temperatures surge again toward 63 degrees before skies clear. That warmth feels more like April than mid-February. Still, don’t pack away winter gear.
Late week brings another shift. Thursday stays mostly sunny near 46 degrees. Friday introduces a chance of rain and snow with highs near 41. If temperatures dip quickly after sunset, flash freezing could create slick spots on bridges and overpasses.
Looking ahead into President’s Day week, much of the central U.S. trends 10 to 20 degrees above normal. Chicago rides that warmer pattern with periodic rain chances instead of prolonged snow.
Five Day Outlook for Chicago, Illinois:
Today: Sunny, high near 55.
Monday: Decreasing clouds, high near 60.
Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, high near 49.
Wednesday: Breezy, chance of early rain, high near 63.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, high near 46.
