SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Central Illinois will enjoy unseasonably warm fall weather this week, but breezy winds and low humidity will raise the risk of fire spread Monday and Tuesday. The National Weather Service in Lincoln reports that daytime highs will climb into the upper 60s and low 70s through midweek before a cold front brings a chance of rain by Thursday night.
According to the Weather Service, dry air and gusty southwest winds will dominate early in the week, keeping humidity levels low enough to support elevated fire danger—particularly across open fields and grassy areas. Residents are urged to avoid outdoor burning and use caution with equipment that could spark. Winds will ease slightly by Wednesday as high pressure moves east.
Temperatures will run well above seasonal averages, with afternoon highs in the low to mid-60s Monday rising into the upper 60s to low 70s by Wednesday. Overnight lows will stay mild, in the upper 30s to low 50s. The next chance for rain arrives late Thursday into Friday, bringing scattered showers that could briefly dampen the ongoing dry conditions.
Forecasters say the mild trend will continue into next weekend, though clouds may linger after Friday’s front.
