Champaign, IL – A biting chill grips the heart of Illinois this Friday morning as clear skies and calm winds combine to deliver the region’s first hard freeze of the season. The air feels still and brittle, lawns glitter white with frost, and thermometers have plunged into the upper 20s — a sure sign that the growing season is officially over.
According to the National Weather Service in Lincoln, a Freeze Warning remains in effect until 9 a.m. CDT for much of central and east-central Illinois, including Champaign, Bloomington, Lincoln, and Decatur. Temperatures fell as low as 29°F, cold enough to damage unprotected outdoor plants and stress plumbing. Officials urge residents to cover sensitive vegetation, drain hoses, and prepare outdoor systems for colder nights ahead.
Sunshine returns later today, lifting afternoon highs into the upper 50s with calm northwest breezes. Friday marks the cold-to-warm transition, leading into a milder but cloudier weekend. Saturday brings mostly cloudy skies with a 30% chance of light showers by evening. Sunday warms further, topping 60°F before another round of spotty rain late in the day.
Looking ahead, next week stays unsettled but mild, with scattered showers possible Monday and Tuesday before another dry stretch midweek. As Halloween approaches, models show seasonable air — chilly for trick-or-treaters but far from wintry.
Across the Midwest, residents are watching closely for the first flakes of the season, though none are expected here yet. For now, Illinois gets a brief taste of winter’s edge — crisp, calm, and quietly signaling that November is near.
