| 2026-07-09 | 6:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 9 Jul: CLR 69.8° REL HMDTY 97% AQ 37 (good) DP 68.9° WND CLM 0.0 MPH BRM 29.90 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:25 Sunset 8:30. 8 Jul: Hi 90.5° (1605) Lo 69.3° (0535) WBGT Black flag @ 1235-> Cease outdoor tasks immediately. CDD 14 GUST S 8 MPH (1515) *** Non-red-letter day over 75 years of local weather history punctured only by a 2.5” rainfall in 1946. NNNN |
| 2026-07-08 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 8 Jul: CLR 64.0° REL HMDTY 96% AQ 54 (mod) DP 62.8° WND CLM 0.0 MPH BRM 30.07 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:24 Sunset 8:30. 7 Jul: Hi 89.2° (1600) Lo 63.3° (0530) WBGT Red
Black flag at 1235-> Cease outdoor tasks immediately. CDD 10 GUST W 12 MPH (1645) *** After 15 days without a drop, 1.71” rain fell in less than 30 minutes OTD two years ago (2024). Cubic-feet-per-second discharge from Hickory Creek to the Des Plaines River in Joliet rose from 18 to 175 in that brief span. Day’s total would reach 2.19”. NNNN |
| 2026-07-07 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 7 Jul: CLR 65.3° REL HMDTY 90% AQ 49 (good-) DP 62.4° WND NW 1.1 MPH BRM 30.09 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:23 Sunset 8:30. 6 Jul: Hi 83.3° (1515) Lo 64.2° (0545) WBGT Red flag at 1600-> Cease outdoor tasks for at least 1/2 hr each 1/2 hr. CDD 9 GUST NE 17 MPH (1115) *** Coldest July reading in local annals shivered us OTD in 1983 when 45° showed on early morning thermometers. NNNN |
| 2026-07-06 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 6 Jul: CLDS 70.5° REL HMDTY 89% AQ 36 (good) DP 67.1° WND NE 2.2 MPH BRM 30.03 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:23 Sunset 8:31. 5 Jul: Hi 79.5° (1505) Lo 68.4° (0030) WBGT Yellow flag warning began 1215-> Cease all outdoor activities for at least 10 minutes every 40 minutes CDD 6 GUST NE 10 MPH (1935) *** "Dirty Thirties" were symbolized by EIGHT straight Joliet days of temperatures over 100° (6th-13th) in 1936. NNNN |
| 2026-07-05 | 7:00 AM | 0.96 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 5 Jul: CLR 69.8° REL HMDTY 99% AQ 92 (mod-) DP 66.6° WND N 3.2 MPH BRM 29.93 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:22 Sunset 8:31. 4 Jul: Hi 86.9° (1420) Lo 66.9° (0605) WBGT Black flag warning began 1005-> Cease all outdoor activities for at least 15 minutes every 30 minutes CDD 10 GUST N 30 MPH (1615) *** Hottest 4th of July happened just 14 years ago in 2012 with 102° and first of three consecutive days with readings 100° or more. Happened but two other times in northeastern Illinois history. Coldest temp on a 4th was a 50° overnight low in 1972. NNNN |
| 2026-07-04 | 7:00 AM | 1.73 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | HAPPY 250th AMERICA! 4 Jul: CLDS 69.8° REL HMDTY 99% AQ 25 (good) DP 69.3° WND W 3.0 MPH BRM 30.00 FLG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:22 Sunset 8:31. 3 Jul: Hi 92.1° (1325) Lo 69.3° (0515) WBGT Black flag warning began 1005-> Cease all outdoor activities for at least 15 minutes every 30 minutes CDD 14 GUST SW 30 MPH (1415) *** 250 years ago, Thomas Jefferson took weather notes in Philadelphia on that glorious day in 1776 when independence was declared. 6 a.m. temperature 68°, 9 a.m. 72°, 1 p.m. 76° (!!!!!), and 9 p.m. 73° with increasing clouds and a southwest breeze. No notes from that afternoon? Hmm, Mr. Jefferson and 55 other men were approving and signing a certain document. History can excuse him if his mind was off meteorology for a bit. NNNN |
| 2026-07-03 | 7:00 AM | 0.76 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 3 Jul: CLR 70.3° REL HMDTY 99% AQ 27 (good) DP 69.8° WND S 6.1 MPH BRM 30.04 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:21 Sunset 8:31. 2 Jul: Hi 95.0° (1610) Lo 70.2° (0603) WBGT Black flag warning began 0950-> Cease all outdoor activities for at least 15 minutes every 30 minutes CDD 18 GUST NW 26 MPH (0055) *** Coldest Joliet July was in 2009 when monthly average was but 57.9°. No humidophobia that month. NNNN |
| 2026-07-02 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 2 Jul: CLR 74.5° REL HMDTY 99% AQ 47 (good) DP 74.1° WND CLM 0.0 MPH BRM 30.03 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:21 Sunset 8:32. 1 Jul: Hi 93.7° (1630) Lo 74.5° (0556) WBGT Black flag warning began 0900-> Cease all outdoor activities for at least 15 minutes every 30 minutes CDD 23 GUST SW 20 MPH (1815) *** Gettysburg (Pa.) weather at mid-summer 1863: 1 July temperature @ 2 pm 76°, sky cloudy during initial skirmish; 2 July 81°, partly cloudy at Little Round Top; and 3 July muggy 87° @ 2 pm for Pickett's Charge. Lee's retreat from Gettysburg on 4 July was hampered by heavy rain but Meade didn’t attempt to follow him. Honest Abe? Not happy. NNNN |
| 2026-07-01 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 1 Jul: CLR 75.7° REL HMDTY 97% AQ 104 (UNHEALTHY) DP 75.0° WND S 6.0 MPH BRM 29.98 STDY VIS 7 MI Sunrise 5:22 Sunset 8:30. 30 Jun: Hi 93.4° (1635) Lo 75.4° (0610) WBGT Black flag warning began 0945-> Cease all outdoor activities for at least 15 minutes every 30 minutes CDD 22 GUST SW 24 MPH (1655) *** Hottest July in Joliet was during the severe drought year of 2012 with an average temperature of 80.1°. Whew! NNNN |
| 2026-06-30 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | Precipitation: 2026: 24.17" (norm 18.2") June: 8.85" (norm 4.1") 30 Jun: CLR 75.6° REL HMDTY 99% AQ 58 (mod) DP 75.0° WND S 6.1 MPH BRM 29.96 STDY VIS 7 MI Sunrise 5:21 Sunset 8:30. 29 Jun: Hi 92.7° (1620) Lo 75.4° (0515) WBGT Black flag began 1000-> Cease all outdoor activities every 30 minutes CDD 19 GUST S 21 MPH (1435) *** Wettest June (9.95”) was in 1993 while the driest (0.12”) was 104 years ago in 1922. NNNN |
| 2026-06-29 | 7:00 AM | T | NA | NA | NA | NA | | Precipitation: 2026: 24.17" (norm 18.2") June: 8.85" (norm 4.1") 29 Jun: CLR 75.0° REL HMDTY 98% AQ 33 (good) DP 74.5° WND S 9.5 MPH BRM 29.95 STDY VIS 7 MI Sunrise 5:21 Sunset 8:30. 28 Jun: Hi 84.9° (1430) Lo 67.5° (0700) WBGT Black flag began 0940-> Cease all outdoor activities every 30 minutes CDD 9 GUST S 24 MPH (1835) *** Nasty 72-hour span of heat indices above 109° (29th 114°, 30th 111°, 1 July 109°) sizzled New Lenox denizens at mid-summer 2018. NNNN |
| 2026-06-28 | 6:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 28 Jun: CLR 63.9° REL HMDTY 93% AQ 31 (good) DP 61.7° WND CLM 0.0 MPH BRM 29.91 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:20 Sunset 8:29. 27 Jun: Hi 81.1° (1320) Lo 63.5° (0355) WBGT Black flag began 1230-> Cease all outdoor activities for minimum 30 minutes CDD 4 GUST NE 16 MPH (1555) *** In 155 years (since 1871) of Northeastern Illinois records, June has been the year’s hottest month only three times: 1933 (Dust Bowl), 1967, and 1971. NNNN |
| 2026-06-27 | 7:00 AM | T | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 27 Jun: OVRCST 63.7° REL HMDTY 92% AQ 25 (good+) DP 61.3° WND NE 7.2 MPH BRM 29.99 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:19 Sunset 8:29. 26 Jun: Hi 71.1° (1230) Lo 63.0° (0700) WBGT Black flag 1320-> Cease outdoor activities! HDD 2 GUST NE 16 MPH (1435) *** First of back-to-back days with a high of 101° occurred OTD in 1971 as your future CoCoRaHS man labored in a nail mill at US Steel in Joliet. Conditions were so awful for us that the 3-11 shift was cancelled. Eight years later the dangerous antiquated facility was closed by OSHA. NNNN. NNNN |
| 2026-06-26 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 26 Jun: CLDS 61.9° REL HMDTY 89% AQ 36 (good) DP 58.5° WND CLM 0.0 MPH BRM 30.06 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:19 Sunset 8:29. 25 Jun: Hi 80.4° (1505) Lo 60.6° (0530) CDD 5 GUST W 17 MPH (1535) *** 1954 seiche on Lake Michigan in Chicago caused water levels to rise 10’ in three minutes. Most tragically, eight fishermen drowned OTD off a breakwater just east of Grant Park. NNNN |
| 2026-06-25 | 7:00 AM | 0.03 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 25 Jun: CLRNG 62.2° REL HMDTY 99% AQ 51 (mod) DP 61.7° WND CLM 0.0 MPH BRM 29.93 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:18 Sunset 8:29. 24 Jun: Hi 79.5° (1700) Lo 59.5° (0440) CDD 1 GUST S 17 MPH (1835) *** Sixth and final day of the big heat in 1988 was evidenced by a 103° on official thermometers. NNNN |
| 2026-06-24 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 24 Jun: OVRCST 61.5° REL HMDTY 82% AQ 33 (good) DP 55.8° WND SE 1.1 MPH BRM 30.11 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:18 Sunset 8:29. 23 Jun: Hi 77.9° (1540) Lo 56.7° (0240) HDD 1 GUST N 7 MPH (1215) *** High of 76° after a low of 48° in 1972 came via full sun and dry conditions. Made for splendid weather to have a wedding at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Champaign. 54 years of married whatever…. NNNN |
| 2026-06-23 | 6:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 23 Jun: CLR 53.8° REL HMDTY 88% AQ 32 (good) DP 50.2° WND N 7.1 MPH WND CHL 52.6° BRM 30.16 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:18 Sunset 8:29. 22 Jun: Hi 75.9° (1435) Lo 53.4° (0400) CDD 1 GUST NE 22 MPH (1315) *** Day #3 (6/22) topped at 99° with Day #4 in 1988’s hot time in suburbia seeing only a maximum of 97° OTD but still joining the Joliet weather annals. NNNN |
| 2026-06-22 | 7:00 AM | 2.54 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 22 Jun: OVRCST 57.6° REL HMDTY 99% AQ 32 (good) DP 57.2° WND N 13.2 MPH BRM 29.91 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:18 Sunset 8:29. 21 Jun: Hi 69.6° (0915) PK WGBT <82° white flag: no cautions. Lo 57.0° (0510) CDD/HDD 0 GUST NE 29 MPH (1945) *** At 2:22 a.m. in 1985, child #2 of ours arrived in Joliet on – what else? - the 22nd of the month which was the 2nd day of summer. His first day was graced by an eighty-2° high, fifty-2° low and overcast, windy skies. NNNN |
| 2026-06-21 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 21 Jun: CLR 58.8° REL HMDTY 96% AQ 32 (good) DP 57.7° WND CLM 0.0 MPH BRM 29.97 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:18 Sunset 8:29. 20 Jun: Hi 77.9° (1555) PK WGBT <82° white flag: no cautions. Lo 57.7° (0435) CDD 4 GUST W 17 MPH (1615) *** Day #2 of 1988’s torrid time came via 101° in Joliet. More than a third of a century later in 2025, an overnight high-minimum of 78° OTD shattered the old mark by four degrees. NNNN |
| 2026-06-20 | 7:00 AM | 0.05 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 20 Jun: CLR 59.9° REL HMDTY 94% AQ 32 (good) DP 57.7° WND W 3.0 MPH BRM 29.98 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:17 Sunset 8:29. 19 Jun: Hi 77.9° (1710) PK WGBT <82° white flag: no cautions. Lo 58.6° (0555) CDD 3 GUST NW 17 MPH (1815) *** Beginning of an awful six-day Joliet heat wave rolled in with 104° OTD in 1988. That day’s hell-on-Earth is still the second-hottest day for these parts in 150+ years of meteorological data. Five all-time marks would be set in less than one week. NNNN |
| 2026-06-19 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 19 Jun: CLR 56.8° REL HMDTY 95% AQ 34 (good) DP 55.4° WND CLM 0.0 MPH BRM 29.95 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:17 Sunset 8:28. 18 Jun: Hi 73.2° (1605) PK WGBT <82° white flag: no cautions. Lo 54.3° (0550) CDD 3 GUST N 20 MPH (1115) *** 102° OTD in 1953 registered the hottest day ever in an initial span of 170 days on the calendar. Former FOX Chicago weather gal Amy Freeze was born on 19 June 1974. NNNN |
| 2026-06-18 | 7:00 AM | 1.72 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 18 Jun: CLR 63.0° REL HMDTY 85% AQ 23 (good+) DP 58.5° WND W 13.9 MPH BRM 29.60 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:17 Sunset 8:28. 17 Jun: Hi 67.1° (1914) PK WGBT <82° white flag: no cautions. Lo 55.6° (1240) HDD 2 GUST SE 23 MPH (1635) *** OTD in 1957, a cool, wet June was interrupted for little more than 30 hours by the one scorching day that month. Temperatures soared to 96° in Joliet with humidity and mugginess. Later that day a violent thunderstorm occurred. 3 p.m. downpour dropped 0.55" rain and temperatures fell drastically. As the city's brief heatwave was over, temperatures would be average or below the rest of the month. NNNN |
| 2026-06-17 | 7:00 AM | 0.03 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 17 Jun: CLDS 54.3° REL HMDTY 92% AQ 30 (good) DP 52.2° WND CLM 0.0 MPH BRM 29.65 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:17 Sunset 8:28. 16 Jun: Hi 76.3° (1515) PK WGBT WHITE flag @ 1500-> no cautions. Lo 54.0° (0535) CDD 4 GUST SW 28 MPH (1255) *** Have you forgotten? Record high of 97° happened two years ago (2024) today. Whew! NNNN |
| 2026-06-16 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 16 Jun: CLR 57.2° REL HMDTY 87% AQ 23 (good+) DP 53.2° WND S 6.0 MPH BRM 29.77 FLG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:17 Sunset 8:27. 15 Jun: Hi 77.0° (1700) PK WGBT White flag @ 1700-> no restrictions. Lo 55.9° (0700) HDD/CDD 0 GUST SW 18 MPH (1215) *** 44° OTD in June 1980 typified conditions for that dreary month. Morning readings were often near 40° with dank humidity and a battleship-gray sky. Stats for northeastern Illinois from over four decades ago reveal that 18 of 30 days were mostly or totally cloudy and with some light form of precipitation. Not one day had 100% full sun. Temperatures were cool (2.1° below average) and 91° on 6/26 was the only hot day. Wind patterns were atypical with 65% of days featuring winds from east and north; traditional wind patterns of south/west were largely absent. With gloom/chill, but 2.4” rain fell on the Illinois prairie. NNNN |
| 2026-06-15 | 7:00 AM | 0.06 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 15 Jun: CLR 53.6° REL HMDTY 91% AQ 31 (good) DP 50.7° WND CLM 0.0 MPH BRM 30.00 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:17 Sunset 8:27. 14 Jun: Hi 70.5° (1320) PK WGBT White flag @ 1420-> no restrictions. Lo 49.1° (0525) HDDN GUST SW 24 MPH (1455) *** Midsummer night’s dream must’ve been a cold one in 1997. Temperature bottomed at 43°. At one point the wind chill was 34° with 9 HDD in the stats. NNNN |
| 2026-06-14 | 7:00 AM | 0.29 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 14 Jun: LT R 64.0° REL HMDTY 90% AQ 30 (good) DP 61.7° WND NW 13.3 MPH BRM 29.82 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:17 Sunset 8:27. 13 Jun: Hi 81.7° (1620) PK WGBT CLEAR flag @ 1420-> no restrictions. Lo 64.0° (0627) CDD 9 GUST SW 21 MPH (1315) *** Record Flag Day maximum scorched New Lenox in 2022 with 100° of Bessemerian blast furnace heat. It was the first triple-digit reading since 103° in 2012. NNNN |
| 2026-06-13 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 13 Jun: CLR 61.7° REL HMDTY 95% AQ 29 (good) DP 59.9° WND S 3.0 MPH BRM 29.97 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:17 Sunset 8:26. 12 Jun: Hi 81.3° (1635) PK WGBT GREEN flag 83° @ 1630-> moderate outdoor action advised. Lo 60.4° (0535) CDD 6 GUST SW 28 MPH (1345) *** Yet another of the Joliet/Lincoln-Way area’s many floods happened OTD in 1981. Rain before midnight (6/12) began 10 consecutive wet hours. 7.8” fell and inundated the turf to a depth of 6’ in low-lying areas. Visibility at times was only one mile. At 1600 hours (6/13) Hickory Creek’s discharge rate set an all-time record of 17, 400 FPS. Joliet called the National Guard to both help citizens to safety and to stifle looters. NNNN |
| 2026-06-12 | 7:00 AM | 0.81 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 12 Jun: CLR 61.7° REL HMDTY 84% AQ 27 (good) DP 56.7° WND W 9.1 MPH BRM 29.90 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:17 Sunset 8:26. 11 Jun: Hi 81.1° (1315) PK WGBT GREEN flag 83° @ 1315-> moderate outdoor action advised. Lo 58.6° (0535) CDD 9 GUST S 40 MPH (1850) *** Chicago temperature records were first kept OTD in 1872. Sporadic tabulations had been kept earlier but were wiped out when some sort of fiery event happened in October the previous year. NNNN |
| 2026-06-11 | 7:00 AM | 1.33 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 11 Jun: CLDS 65.1° REL HMDTY 99% AQ 28 (good) DP 65.0° WND S 5.0 MPH BRM 29.79 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:17 Sunset 8:25. 10 Jun: Hi 90.0° (1435) PK WGBT GREEN flag 83° @ 1315-> moderate outdoor action. Lo 65.1° (0600) CDD 14 GUST SW 38 MPH (1552) *** This is a date which hasn’t lived in the infamy of northeastern Illinois weather history. 3.02” was the greatest rain on this date and occurred exactly 100 years ago in 1926. Next closest was 2.49” three years later. NNNN |
| 2026-06-10 | 7:00 AM | 0.01 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 10 Jun: CLDS 73.9° REL HMDTY 94% AQ 25 (good+) DP 72.1° WND CLM 0.0 MPH BRM 29.84 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:17 Sunset 8:25. 9 Jun: Hi 88.9° (1520) PK WGBT BLACK flag 94° @ 1335-> suspend ALL outdoor acts. Lo 71.2° (0355) CDD 14 GUST SW 9 MPH (1815) *** Alas, poor Minooka. Its 2015 record Illinois hailstone (4.8” diameter) OTD lasted only 11 years. The 2026 severe storms of mid-March in Kankakee eclipsed the mark by more than 1 1/3”. NNNN |
| 2026-06-09 | 7:00 AM | 0.49 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 9 Jun: OVRCST 72.0° REL HMDTY 99% AQ 20 (excellent) DP 71.4° WND CLM 0.0 MPH BRM 29.95 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:17 Sunset 8:24. 8 Jun: Hi 81.9° (1345) PK WBGT 88° @ 1630 Flag yellow-> outdoor exposure 30-40 minute spans. Lo 69.4° (0700) CDD 10 GUST S 20 MPH (1115) *** Dry bones and dry clouds: lowest one-day summer precipitation standard came via a modest rainfall of 1.31” OTD in 2018. NNNN |
| 2026-06-08 | 7:00 AM | 0.99 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 8 Jun: MSTLY CLDY 69.1° REL HMDTY 93% AQ 28 (good) DP 66.7° WND E 8.1 MPH BRM 29.98 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:18 Sunset 8:24. 7 Jun: Hi 87.1° (1125) PK WBGT 89° (1145) Flag red-> limit outdoor exposure to 20-30 minute spans; Lo 64.8° (0125) CDD 10 GUST SE 18 MPH (1115) *** The hottest June and summer, too, in these parts was typified by a 97° high and 77° low OTD after 100°/78° the previous day in 1933. Yes, this was the inaugural year of awful Dust Bowl weather. NNNN |
| 2026-06-07 | 7:00 AM | T | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 7 Jun: HZ 69.1° REL HMDTY 90% AQ 29 (good) DP 65.8° WND CLM 0.0 MPH BRM 29.94 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:18 Sunset 8:23. 6 Jun: Hi 91.0° (1540) PK WBGT 96° (1545) Black Flag-> suspend ALL outdoor activities Lo 67.6° (0455) CDD 13 GUST E 10 MPH (1935) *** Central Will County was hit by three EF-2 tornadoes OTD in 2008. At 1746 hours Symerton was struck, Wilton Center at 1754, and at 1808 Green Garden. No injuries were reported and little structural damage occurred. NNNN |
| 2026-06-06 | 7:00 AM | 0.49 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 6 Jun: MSTLY CLDY 70.0° REL HMDTY 99% AQ 30 (good) DP 69.4° WND SW 8.1 MPH BRM 29.88 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:18 Sunset 8:22. 5 Jun: Hi 81.0° (1810) PK WBGT 96° (1545) Black Flag-> suspend ALL outdoor activities Lo 66.9° (0540) CDD 11 GUST SW 28 MPH (2035) *** Temperature cool at 49°, barometer rising, low cumulus clouds, raw west-northwest winds 18-30 MPH, and choppy, chilly seas were present on the pre-dawn morning of 6 June 1944 in the English Channel as my Uncle Leonard and tens of thousands of other Yanks, Brits, and Canucks pulled off the great D-Day invasion of Normandy. NNNN |
| 2026-06-05 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 5 Jun: OVRCST 69.6° REL HMDTY 73% AQ 34 (good) DP 60.4° WND S 7.0 MPH BRM 29.94 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:18 Sunset 8:22. 4 Jun: Hi 88.3° (1610) PK WBGT X° (Condition ) @ 00:00 Lo 64.4° (0700) CDD 10 GUST S 20 MPH (1035) *** Joliet Arsenal explosion at 2:45 a.m. OTD in 1942 killed 48 workers. The night had been pleasant with a low of 60° under dry skies. NNNN |
| 2026-06-04 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 4 Jun: CLR 57.9° REL HMDTY 78% AQ 45 (good) DP 50.7° WND SE 5.0 MPH BRM 30.17 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:19 Sunset 8:21. 3 Jun: Hi 87.3° (1620) Lo 56.7° (0540) CDD 3 GUST S 9 MPH (1135) *** 2,000 witnessed a Friday speech by Reverend Martin Luther King OTD in 1965 at Joliet Memorial Stadium. Pleasant weather was evident that evening after a high of 75° with a gentle breeze which refreshed the throng. NNNN |
| 2026-06-03 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 3 Jun: CLR 52.9° REL HMDTY 86% AQ 51 (mod) DP 48.6° WND CLM 0.0 MPH BRM 30.35 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:19 Sunset 8:20. 2 Jun: Hi 78.8° (1545) Lo 50.5° (0540) HDD 4 GUST NE 21 MPH (1515) *** One of Joliet’s regular floods happened OTD in 1902. 4” rain fell in two hours and waters as deep as 10’ helped to kill three and cause $2,000,000 damage. Those losses would be $75,000,000 in 2026 money. NNNN |
| 2026-06-02 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 2 Jun: CLR 54.7° REL HMDTY 79% AQ 30 (good) DP 47.7° WND CLM 0.0 MPH BRM 30.26 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:19 Sunset 8:20. 1 Jun: Hi 72.5° (1550) Lo 52.2° (0525) HDD 1 GUST NE 12 MPH (1935) *** A record 16 days over 90° baked the area in June 1954. 1988 was not far behind with 14 and three days were above 100°. NNNN |
| 2026-06-01 | 7:00 AM | T | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 1 Jun: OVRCST 59.2° REL HMDTY 68% AQ 39 (good) DP 48.6° WND NE 5.1 MPH BRM 30.04 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:20 Sunset 8:19. 31 May: Hi 79.0° (1330) Lo 55.6° (0700) HDD/CDD 0 GUST NE 7 MPH (2055) *** Latest date on calendar to finally note an 80° (83°) temperature occurred OTD in 1973. 151 days of that year had passed with the most recent 80° day having occurred on 20 September (1972), a toasty 85° and, thus, 252 days without a 80° reading. Conversely, earliest reading of at least 80° took but an astonishingly quick 74 days (81° on 14 March) in the hot, drought year of 2012. NNNN |
| 2026-05-31 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | PRECIPITATION: May 1.5" (norm 4.5") Spring 11.7" (10.4") 2026 15.3" (14.1") SNOW: May 0.0" (norm 0.0") Spring 3.4" (8.1") 2026 15.7" (30.4"). 31 May: CLR 55.4° REL HMDTY 62% AQ 31 (good) DP 42.6° WND E 6.1 MPH BRM 30.11 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:20 Sunset 8:18. 30 May: Hi 81.1° (1300) Lo 55.2° (0555) HDD 1 GUST NE 23 MPH (1655) *** This occasion in 1934 produced the all-time Northeastern Illinois May maximum of 98° which came during – what else? - the horrible Dust Bowl days. NNNN |
| 2026-05-30 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 30 May: CLR 61.3° REL HMDTY 78% AQ 54 (mod) DP 54.7° WND NE 4.5 MPH BRM 30.01 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:21 Sunset 8:18. 29 May: Hi 88.2° (1633) Lo 60.4° (0700) CDD 2 GUST S 9 MPH (0935) *** Amid a gentle 84° high, 59° low, sunny, great visibility of 15 miles, and moderate breezes from the southwest, old Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet on this date in 1950 was a beautiful place and time to have been born. NNNN |
| 2026-05-29 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 29 May: CLR 54.5° REL HMDTY 90% AQ 48 (mod) DP 51.3° WND N 3.0 MPH BRM 30.10 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:21 Sunset 8:17. 28 May: Hi 77.9° (1350) Lo 52.7° (0515) HDD 4 GUST NE 22 MPH (1615) *** Just 7% of Memorial Day holidays have had readings of 90° or above. NNNN |
| 2026-05-28 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 28 May: CLR 59.5° REL HMDTY 72% AQ 20 (exc) DP 50.4° WND NE 12.8 MPH BRM 30.13 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:22 Sunset 8:16. 27 May: Hi 88.0° (1630) Lo 59.0° (0545) CDD 6 GUST NE 20 MPH (2155) *** Hottest Memorial Day readings came via 95° of heat in both 2012 and 2018. NNNN |
| 2026-05-27 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 27 May: CLR 58.8° REL HMDTY 88% AQ 55 (mod) DP 55.2° WND N 5.0 MPH BRM 29.99 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:23 Sunset 8:14. 26 May: Hi 86.0° (0540) Lo 55.8° (0540) CDD 9 GUST SE 8 MPH (1415) *** Pleasant Joliet day OTD in 1942 with a sunny high of 75° but 9,000 miles northeast from its namesake location, The City of Joliet ship was attacked in the Barents Sea 100 miles SE of Bear Island. One direct hit with three near-misses by the German Luftwaffe sank the freighter over a 24-hour span but there were no deaths. Clear skies may have made TCOJ and other neighboring ships easy targets. Christened in 1920, the ship was a slow-moving (11 knots peak) freighter and had been in a convoy headed to Murmansk (USSR) as part of war-time lend-lease. With the tremendous battle of Stalingrad about to begin, the 1942 aerial bombing was one of many regular attacks on Allied maritime trade. Almost exactly two years later, the SS Joliet Victory was launched and participated in vital landings (Iwo Jima, Leyte, and Lingayen Gulf among others) and survived the war. NNNN |
| 2026-05-26 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 26 May: CLR 64.2° REL HMDTY 68% AQ 52 (mod) DP 54.0° WND CLM 0.0 MPH BRM 30.09 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:23 Sunset 8:14. 25 May: Hi 85.6° (1540) Lo 62.2° (0700) CDD 6 GUST S 9 MPH (1435) *** Brr! 34° on this morning in 1983 as the frigid era of the late 1970s/early 1980s continued to revise record books. NNNN |
| 2026-05-25 | 7:00 AM | 0.45 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 25 May: CLR 54.0° REL HMDTY 96% AQ 52 (mod) DP 52.9° WND S 5.0 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 30.13 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:24 Sunset 8:13. 24 May: Hi 78.8° (1700) Lo 54.0° (0540) CDD 2 GUST N 16 MPH (1455) *** Several locations in Northeastern Illinois had anecdotal reports of a trace of snow OTD in 1924 but none originated from official sources. NNNN |
| 2026-05-24 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 24 May: OVRCST 64.4° REL HMDTY 94% AQ 29 (good) DP 62.4° WND S 5.0 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 29.98 STDY VIS 8 MI Sunrise 5:25 Sunset 8:12. 23 May: Hi 81.1° (1540) Lo 57.9° (0830) HDD 2 GUST E 12 MPH (1815) *** 1977’s heat wave produced its final 90° reading OTD during an eight-day string of late-spring sizzlers. NNNN |
| 2026-05-23 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 23 May: OVRCST 57.4° REL HMDTY 84% AQ 23 (good+) DP 52.5° WND N 7.2 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 29.95 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:25 Sunset 8:12. 22 May: Hi 72.1° (1320) Lo 55.0° (0700) HDD 6 GUST NE 20 MPH (1635) *** 55-70 MPH winds @ 1540 broke large limbs off trees in the Lincoln-Way area OTD in 2020. The dangerous derecho storm in New Lenox 79 days later would make this seem a pleasant zephyr. NNNN |
| 2026-05-22 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 22 May: OVRCST 55.2° REL HMDTY 68% AQ 18 (excellent) DP 44.8° WND ENE 9.1 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 30.12 STDY 10 MI Sunrise 5:26 Sunset 8:11. 21 May: Hi 66.9° (1300) Lo 50.7° (0705) HDD 12 GUST E 20 MPH (1615) *** 31° OTD in 2002 was the latest sub-freezing low so far into spring. Global warming, right? NNNN |
| 2026-05-21 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 21 May: CLRNG 50.0° REL HMDTY 71% AQ 18 (excellent) DP 41.0° WND NE 9.1 MPH WND CHL 47.0° BRM 30.26 STDY 10 MI Sunrise 5:27 Sunset 8:10. 20 May: Hi 62.6° (1505) Lo 48.6° (0100) HDD 11 GUST NE 22 MPH (1235) *** This glorious day in 1972 was sunny and dry with gentle breezes and a high of 83° in west central Illinois. Great weather for graduating college in ZIP 62650. NNNN |
| 2026-05-20 | 7:00 AM | 0.02 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 20 May: CLDS 54.5° REL HMDTY 70% AQ 19 (excellent) DP 45.0° WND N 7.4 MPH WND CHL 52.5° BRM 30.20 RSG 10 MI Sunrise 5:28 Sunset 8:09. 19 May: Hi 78.3° (1500) Lo 53.8° (0550) CDD 4 GUST SW 25 MPH (0725) *** 95° was the peak reading in 1977 during the third day of eight straight hotties. That night, the minimum of 70° made the record books. For the month, average daily high of 81.7° cleanly broke previous marks. NNNN |
| 2026-05-19 | 7:00 AM | 0.53 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 19 May: CLDS 66.9° REL HMDTY 90% AQ 25 (good+) DP 64.0° WND S 10.9 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 29.88 FLG 10 MI Sunrise 5:29 Sunset 8:08. 18 May: Hi 78.9° (0950) Lo 63.9° (0200) CDD 8 GUST S 23 MPH (0715) *** Trace of snow fell on Joliet in 1917 as the U.S. entered World War I and troop trains began departing Union Station amid continuing protests. Even the unincorporated hamlet of New Lenox heard the voices of those who exercised their First Amendment freedoms that would soon be quashed in the name of national unity. NNNN |
| 2026-05-18 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 18 May: OVRCST 73.0° REL HMDTY 73% AQ 34 (good) DP 63.7° WND SE 18.2 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 29.87 STDY 10 MI Sunrise 5:29 Sunset 8:07. 17 May: Hi 86.9° (1510) Lo 61.7° (0700) CDD 12 GUST S 29 MPH (1335) *** First of record eight consecutive 90°+ May days was recorded OTD in 1977. Somewhat ironic in that this heat followed one frigid, snow-smashed winter (76/77) and preceded two more (77-78 and 78-79). NNNN |
| 2026-05-17 | 7:00 AM | 0.05 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 17 May: CLR 64.2° REL HMDTY 96% AQ 24 (good) DP 63.1° WND SE 5.0 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 29.91 STDY 10 MI Sunrise 5:30 Sunset 8:06. 16 May: Hi 82.4° (1345) Lo 61.7° (0750) CDD 7 GUST SW 22 MPH (1335) *** Three days after a 3.6” raised floodwaters in New Lenox in 2020, 3.1” more fell OTD and sent Hickory Creek over its banks in the usual Brookwood neighborhood. NNNN |
| 2026-05-16 | 7:00 AM | 0.02 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 16 May: OVRCST 61.9° REL HMDTY 86% AQ 29 (good) DP 57.7° WND S 5.1 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 29.83 STDY 10 MI Sunrise 5:31 Sunset 8:05. 15 May: Hi 76.6° (1650) Lo 55.2° (0955) HDD 1 GUST S 25 MPH (1235) *** Mercury soared to 94° OTD in 1964 and school was dismissed early in Joliet. Before the brutal winters of the late 1970s/early 1980s, local districts #86 and #204 almost never shut down for any weather-related reason. NNNN |
| 2026-05-15 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 15 May: OVRCST 54.5° REL HMDTY 63% AQ 26 (good) DP 42.3° WND NE 1.1 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 29.95 STDY 10 MI Sunrise 5:32 Sunset 8:04. 14 May: Hi 72.0° (1620) Lo 43.5° (0700) HDD 10 GUST SE 9 MPH (2155) *** 365 days ago a record was set as New Lenox basked in 94° warmth. The next day brought a very rare dust storm that blew through from 1815 to 1915 hours. Temperatures plummeted as the sun was obscured and the sky took on a sepia tone with 60 MPH winds wailing. Visibility was reduced to less than a half-mile for 20 minutes. Only the very elderly could remember similar events that happened with terrible regularity in the Dust Bowl times over 90 years ago. In fact, the last phenomenon of this sort in Will County had taken place in 1934. NNNN |
| 2026-05-14 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 14 May: CLR 37.4° REL HMDTY 98% AQ 55 (mod) DP 36.9° WND CLM 0.0 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 30.12 STDY 10 MI Sunrise 5:33 Sunset 8:03. 13 May: Hi 63.1° (1340) Lo 35.6° (0530) HDD 13 GUST N 22 MPH (1335) *** 3.6” rain inundated the Lincoln-Way area OTD in 2020. Over a century earlier, legendary John Hope of The Weather Channel was born in 1919. NNNN |
| 2026-05-13 | 7:00 AM | 0.03 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 13 May: CLDS 53.6° REL HMDTY 75% AQ 26 (good) DP 45.9° WND N 6.5 MPH WND CHL 52.6° BRM 29.91 STDY RSG 10 MI Sunrise 5:34 Sunset 8:02. 12 May: Hi 77.2° (1455) Lo 45.7° (0700) HDD 8 GUST SW 20 MPH (2055) *** OTD in 1886 at 6:30 p.m. high winds blew, rain pelted, hail hammered, lightning lashed, and thunder thwacked during a Burr Robbins circus near downtown Joliet. Animals stampeded during this astraphobic adventure, tents were destroyed, and dozens hurt but no fatalities were recorded. NNNN |
| 2026-05-12 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 12 May: CLR 42.8° REL HMDTY 69% AQ 50 (good-) DP 33.4° WND E 1.1 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 30.13 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:35 Sunset 8:01. 11 May: Hi 61.2° (1315) Lo 39.2° (0340) HDD 16 GUST NE 22 MPH (1115) *** Highest minimum daily temperature in the first 4 ½ months of any year – 74° - occurred OTD in 2022. NNNN |
| 2026-05-11 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 11 May: CLR 44.8° REL HMDTY 76% AQ 50 (good-) DP 36.7° WND N 7.4 MPH WND CHL 39.7° BRM 30.14 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:36 Sunset 8:00. 10 May: Hi 66.2° (1640) Lo 42.3° (0530) HDD 12 GUST NW 20 MPH (1555) *** Latest measurable snow (0.2”) was OTD in 1966. Your veteran CoCoRaHS man still remembers running the mile that afternoon in a Joliet Central meet as snow fell. This harrier’s speed was not enhanced by cool air or any other environmental factors. NNNN |
| 2026-05-10 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 10 May: CLR 43.2° REL HMDTY 69% AQ 31 (good) DP 33.6° WND NE 6.2 MPH WND CHL 39.7° BRM 30.01 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:37 Sunset 7:59. 9 May: Hi 76.3° (1430) Lo 42.6° (0150) HDD 3 GUST W 30 MPH (1555) *** 90° high temperature and record low 13% relative humidity with powerful northwest winds led to a fierce Joliet area dust storm OTD in 1934. Sun was obscured for two days and visibility was regularly under a mile. Health problems arose, mainly of respiratory nature. Pedestrians were temporarily blinded and motorists’ windshields were blocked. Scientists at Abbott Labs surmised that winds dumped 6,000 tons of silt on the area. Effects of spring cleaning were negated as dust blew through window and door frames. Amathophobia must’ve been caused by these conditions. NNNN |
| 2026-05-09 | 7:00 AM | T | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 9 May: FG/MST 49.6° REL HMDTY 99% AQ 30 (good) DP 49.3° WND SW 10.0 MPH WND CHL 46.0° BRM 29.65 STDY VIS 1.75 MI Sunrise 5:39 Sunset 7:58. 8 May: Hi 69.4° (1615) Lo 48.6° (0700) HDD 12 GUST SW 10 MPH (0631) *** Sunny Chicago lakefront temperature fell from 84° at 1:47 p.m. to an overcast 62° 150 seconds later OTD in 1963. Winds which had been gentle/southwest switched to strong cold gales off Lake Michigan. At Wrigley Field the Cubs (in what would be their first above-.500 campaign since 1946) made their way to an early lead over Pittsburgh before a plunging mercury sped the pace of play. During 7½ innings played rapidly after this change of weather, only three batters garnered hits. Northsiders held on for a rare 3-1 triumph. NNNN |
| 2026-05-08 | 7:00 AM | T | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 8 May: LT R 48.0° REL HMDTY 93% AQ 53 (mod) DP 45.9° WND CLM 0.0 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 29.84 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:40 Sunset 7:57. 7 May: Hi 62.8° (1750) Lo 40.6° (0720) HDD 16 GUST W 24 MPH (1555) *** Raw, windy day in 1945 with a high of only 54° after a low of 38° but tens of thousands celebrated VE Day in Joliet. NNNN |
| 2026-05-07 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 7 May: CLR 32.2° REL HMDTY 94% AQ 52 (mod) DP 30.6° WND CLM 0.0 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 29.98 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:41 Sunset 7:56. 6 May: Hi 58.5° (1605) Lo 31.8° (0520) HDD 15 GUST W 8 MPH (1535) *** Gray, dank 6 ½ month stretch from November 2022 to early May 2023 paused for 24 hours with record high of 87° three years ago but the following day’s maximum did not did not crack the upper 50s. Area frigophobics endured a seemingly endless string of gloomy months that had these average readings: November 43°, December 30°, January 33°, February 34°, March 39°, and April 51°. Only warm spell was from 13-15 April when new standards were set with a skein of 83° days. NNNN |
| 2026-05-06 | 7:00 AM | 0.05 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 6 May: CLR 51.4° REL HMDTY 82% AQ 31 (good) DP 34.0° WND CLM 0.0 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 29.89 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:42 Sunset 7:55. 5 May: Hi 56.1° (1120) Lo 38.1° (0545) HDD 11 GUST NW 8 MPH (1235) *** Late 1970s/early 1980s are remembered for cold weather. No exception OTD in 1983 as our Lincoln-Way area tallied an overnight low of 29°. NNNN |
| 2026-05-05 | 7:00 AM | 0.15 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 5 May: CLDY 51.4° REL HMDTY 67% AQ 20 (excellent) DP 41.7° WND NW 10.2 MPH WND CHL 48.4° BRM 29.72 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:43 Sunset 7:54. 4 May: Hi 81.7° (1540) Lo 51.3° (0607) CDD 1 GUST SW 31 MPH (1855) *** 70° was the overnight minimum on this occasion in 1959. Maximum on the following day was an understandably record-setting 91°. In the past 67 years no temperature OTD has reached that mark. NNNN |
| 2026-05-04 | 7:00 AM | 0.08 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 4 May: CLR 44.4° REL HMDTY 96% AQ 30 (good) DP 43.5° WND SE 9.0 MPH WND CHL 39.4° BRM 29.67 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:44 Sunset 7:52. 3 May: Hi 68.4° (1810) Lo 44.4° (0621) HDD 8 GUST S 32 MPH (1435) *** Overnight minimum reached 32° OTD in 1954 but the frosty reading is nowhere near the record low for chill so far into spring. Stay tuned. NNNN |
| 2026-05-03 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 3 May: OVRCST 39.9° REL HMDTY 78% AQ 30 (good) DP 33.6° WND SW 5.0 MPH WND CHL 37.9° BRM 29.96 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:46 Sunset 7:51. 2 May: Hi 57.4° (1610) Lo 32.0° (0700) HDD 20 GUST NW 20 MPH (1535) *** Quite the opposite of these days, a four-day streak of 90+ temperatures began to sizzle the Joliet region in the first week of May in 1949. The hottest came on the final day when the mercury soared to 94°. NNNN |
| 2026-05-02 | 7:00 AM | T | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 2 May: CLR 29.7° REL HMDTY 98% AQ 51 (mod) DP 29.1° WND CLM 0.0 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 30.10 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:47 Sunset 7:50. 1 May: Hi 51.4° (1130) Lo 28.8° (0620) HDD 22 GUST NE 9 MPH (1155) *** The day after the Cubs and Bees were snowed out (5/1/1940), another storm hit and deposited 2.2” fluffy stuff. Those feats made for the snowiest May in northeastern Illinois history. NNNN |
| 2026-05-01 | 7:00 AM | 0.12 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 1 May: DRZ 41.2° REL HMDTY 95% AQ 30 (good) DP 39.7° WND NE 8.1 MPH WND CHL 36.2° BRM 29.97 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:50 Sunset 7:49. 30 Apr: Hi 61.5° (1355) Lo 37.4° (0700) HDD 18 GUST W 18 MPH (1535) *** Latest date on the calendar to finally note an 80° or greater (83°) occurred in 1973. 151 days of that year had passed with the most recent 80°+ day having occurred on 20 September (1972) with a toasty 85°. The earliest reading of 80° or more took an astonishing 74 days (81° on 14 March) in the hot, drought year of 2012. NNNN |
| 2026-04-30 | 7:00 AM | T | NA | NA | NA | NA | | PRECIPITATION: April 7.0" (norm 3.7") Spring 11.17" (5.9") 2026 13.85" (9.6") SNOW: April 0.0" (norm 1.1") Spring 3.4" (8.1") 2026 15.7" (30.4") Snow Season 37.3" (38.5") 30 Apr: FG/MST 33.8° REL HMDTY 99% AQ 47 (good) DP 33.4° WND CLM 0.0 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 30.02 STDY VIS 1.5 MI Sunrise 5:50 Sunset 7:48. 29 Apr: Hi 59.2° (1140) Lo 33.4° (0525) HDD 16 GUST NW 24 MPH (1415) *** Greatest amount of April snow to visit the region was 13.6” in 1938. Were our forebears wondering if spring would ever arrive? NNNN |
| 2026-04-29 | 7:00 AM | T | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 29 Apr: OVRCST 52.5° REL HMDTY 74% AQ 22 (very good) DP 44.6° WND NW 4.5 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 29.91 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:51 Sunset 7:47. 28 Apr: Hi 64.0° (1645) Lo 50.4° (0835) HDD 8 GUST NW 21 MPH (1435) *** Very chilly April (fourth worst in our local history) came our way just eight years ago. 15 days in that cold month saw below-freezing temperatures. Global warming? Ha! NNNN |
| 2026-04-28 | 7:00 AM | 1.02 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 28 Apr: OVRCST 50.9° REL HMDTY 84% AQ 20 (very good) DP 46.4° WND W 10.2 MPH WND CHL 48.1° BRM 29.87 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:52 Sunset 7:46. 27 Apr: Hi 67.5° (1445) Lo 50.9° (0641) HDD 7 GUST NE 28 MPH (2015) *** Coldest April came in the third full year (1874) of northeastern Illinois records when the region shivered through a 38.7° average temperature. Not much in the way of whole-house furnaces, fiberglass insulation, and electric blankets 152 years ago. NNNN |
| 2026-04-27 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 27 Apr: OVRCST 54.3° REL HMDTY 86% AQ 31 (good) DP 50.2° WND SE 13.5 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 29.87 FLG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:54 Sunset 7:45. 26 Apr: Hi 68.4° (1725) Lo 47.7° (0700) HDD 15 GUST NE 23 MPH (0945) *** On 25 April 2019, your indefatigable CoCoRaHS man in New Lenox tallied 2.5” snow. The end of winter? No, another 2.5” came our way 48 hours later. Enough to make a sane man chionophobic. NNNN |
| 2026-04-26 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 26 Apr: FG/MST 47.7° REL HMDTY 99% AQ 33 (good) DP 47.1° WND E 5.1 MPH WND CHL 45.5° BRM 30.04 RSG VIS 2.5 MI Sunrise 5:55 Sunset 7:44. 25 Apr: Hi 64.0° (1710) Lo 43.0° (0435) HDD 15 GUST NE 23 MPH (0945) *** First photo of a tornado was taken (1884) on OTD in – where else? - Toto and Dorothy‘s Kansas. NNNN |
| 2026-04-25 | 6:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 25 Apr: OVRCST 47.3° REL HMDTY 91% AQ 35 (good) DP 45.0° WND NE 13.2 MPH WND CHL 42.3° BRM 29.93 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:57 Sunset 7:43. 24 Apr: Hi 71.6° (1710) Lo 47.3° (0553) HDD 5 GUST W 18 MPH (1655) *** Remember this recent weather atrocity? 2.5” snow visited New Lenox OTD in 2019. NNNN |
| 2026-04-24 | 7:00 AM | T | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 24 Apr: CLR 65.8° REL HMDTY 83% AQ 35 (good) DP 60.8° WND SE 5.1 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 29.62 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:58 Sunset 7:42. 23 Apr: Hi 81.1° (1440) Lo 55.0° (0700) CDD 2 GUST SW 22 MPH (1435) *** Don’t like today’s elements? Just wait a bit. OTD in 1986 a morning low of 25° became a balmy 81° 32 hours later. NNNN |
| 2026-04-23 | 7:00 AM | T | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 23 Apr: CLRNG 53.1° REL HMDTY 98% AQ 53 (mod) DP 52.9° WND CLM 0.0 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 29.93 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 5:59 Sunset 7:41. 22 Apr: Hi 81.7° (1605) Lo 49.5° (0240) HDD 3 GUST W 21 MPH (0915) *** A final meteorological indignity of then-record winter weather in 1967 came OTD when 3.1” of last-gasp snow fell. This mess occurred just 60 hours after the series of northeastern Illinois (mainly Oak Lawn/Belvidere) tornadoes killed 55. NNNN |
| 2026-04-22 | 7:00 AM | 0.03 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 22 Apr: CLR 60.3° REL HMDTY 90% AQ 39 (good) DP 57.2° WND SW 5.1 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 29.93 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:01 Sunset 7:40. 21 Apr: Hi 79.7° (1455) Lo 48.0° (0700) HDD 2 GUST SW 24 MPH (1455) *** 85° in ’85 was the warmest Joliet temperature registered on an April 22nd. NNNN |
| 2026-04-21 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 21 Apr: CLR 46.9° REL HMDTY 76% AQ 27 (good) DP 39.7° WND S 8.2 MPH WND CHL 43.8° BRM 30.02 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:02 Sunset 7:38. 20 Apr: Hi 59.2° (1650) Lo 31.3° (0700) HDD 20 GUST S 21 MPH (1235) *** The vicious F-4 Oak Lawn tornado struck at evening rush hour (5:30 p.m.) on this Friday in 1967. 33 were killed, 1,100 injured, and 152 homes totally destroyed. NNNN |
| 2026-04-20 | 7:00 AM | 0.02 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 20 Apr: CLRNG 29.3° REL HMDTY 94% AQ 53 (mod) DP 27.7° WND CLM 0.0 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 30.32 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:04 Sunset 7:37. 19 Apr: Hi 51.8° (1745) Lo 29.3° (0618) HDD 22 GUST W 22 MPH (1155) *** At 6:09 p.m. OTD in 2004, a 200-yard wide F-3 tornado barreled through the heart of Utica and killed eight in the Milestone Tap and one other citizen. NNNN |
| 2026-04-19 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 19 Apr: CLR 51.6° REL HMDTY 86% AQ 28 (good) DP 29.5° WND SW 8.0 MPH WND CHL 27.3° BRM 30.10 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:05 Sunset 7:36. 18 Apr: Hi 51.6° (1630) Lo 32.9° (0515) HDD 12 GUST W 28 MPH (1635) *** Fair and glorious weather greeted sister #3’s earthly arrival OTD in 1965. Her happy parents and siblings rejoiced under a high of 62° with fair/dry conditions and light zephyrs. Happy 61st, Pip! NNNN |
| 2026-04-18 | 7:00 AM | 0.90 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 18 Apr: OVRCST 46.4° REL HMDTY 91% AQ 28 (good) DP 44.6° WND W 14.5 MPH WND CHL 40.6° BRM 29.75 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:07 Sunset 7:35. 17 Apr: Hi 83.7° (1620) Lo 46.4° (0628) H/CDD 0 GUST S 31 MPH (1635) *** In another example of 1975’s wacky weather, 3.83” rain fell OTD. Pluviophibics unite! Also, renowned Chicago weather wizard Harry Volkman was born OTD in 1926 (died 8/20/2015). He was the first TV meteorologist to predict and issue a tornado warning. NNNN |
| 2026-04-17 | 7:00 AM | T | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 17 Apr: FG/MST 53.8° REL HMDTY 99% AQ 60 (moderate) DP 53.1° WND SE 3.0 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 29.92 STDY VIS 4 MI Sunrise 6:08 Sunset 7:34. 16 Apr: Hi 73.2° (1650) Lo 50.7° (0340) HDD 3 GUST SW 22 MPH (1035) *** Late-season snowstorm dropped over 5” on Chicago in mid-April 1961. Much of the Cubs’ series with the Milwaukee Braves was cancelled even though the teams tried to play on the 15th. What a sight to see Chicago pitchers hurling snowballs during batting practice! As was so often the case in those days, Flub hitters flailed and failed. NNNN |
| 2026-04-16 | 7:00 AM | 0.50 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 16 Apr: LT R 59.4° REL HMDTY 98% AQ 20 (excellent) DP 58.6° WND S 14.1 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 29.75 STDY VIS 6 MI Sunrise 6:10 Sunset 7:33. 15 Apr: Hi 73.2° (1750) Lo 58.3° (0425) CDD 1 GUST S 26 MPH (1955) *** Despite a high of but 47° under drizzly and gray skies in 1917, the first of many anti-World War I protests broke out in New Lenox. Several arrests were made as local Americans found themselves deprived of their First Amendment freedoms. NNNN |
| 2026-04-15 | 7:00 AM | 0.02 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 15 Apr: OVRCST 67.5° REL HMDTY 92% AQ 34 (good) DP 65.1° WND W 6.2 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 29.81 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:12 Sunset 7:32. 14 Apr: Hi 81.9° (1805) Lo 57.4° (0715) CDD 5 GUST SW 28 MPH (2015) *** A dark day in American history hit the calendar in 1954. This chilly occasion (high of 56° low 39°) was when Americans were first required OTD to have federal income tax forms postmarked to big government by midnight. NNNN |
| 2026-04-14 | 7:00 AM | 0.32 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 14 Apr: R 60.3° REL HMDTY 87% AQ 25 (good) DP 57.4° WND NE 10.5 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 29.85 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:13 Sunset 7:31. 13 Apr: Hi 79.3° (1540) Lo 60.3° (0621) CDD 6 GUST W 17 MPH (1415) *** As Democrat segregationist John Wilkes Booth crept toward the presidential box in Ford’s Theatre at 10:13 p.m. OTD in 1865, local temperatures were in the mid-50s, skies were partly cloudy, Gibbous moon hung low to E/SE, and the Big Dipper was high in the heavens. NNNN |
| 2026-04-13 | 7:00 AM | 0.10 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 13 Apr: OVRCST 63.9° REL HMDTY 92% AQ 22 (good+) DP 61.5° WND SW 12.4 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 29.90 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:15 Sunset 7:30. 12 Apr: Hi 81.3° (1545) Lo 57.6° (0700) CDD 4 GUST SW 39 MPH (1555) *** Anecdotal reports in mid-April of 1816 foretold “The Year Without Summer”. Volcanic eruptions in 1814 (Mt. Mayon) and 1815 (Mt. Tambora) were the greatest in 1,300 years and launched 24 cubic miles of stratospheric sulfate into the atmosphere. Effects on the U.S.? Excessive rain/snow fell and sunlight was blocked for several years. Average temperatures dropped by 0.7 to 1.5 degrees with widespread crop failures. Dendrochronologists have noted no growth on tree rings in the NE United States and eastern Midwest from 1816. Local effect? Mass migration occurred as thousands of frustrated farmers from eastern states poured into Illinois. Rapid population growth provided enough people to be approved for statehood in December 1818. NNNN |
| 2026-04-12 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 12 Apr: PRTLY CLDY 57.0° REL HMDTY 83% AQ 33 (good) DP 52.2° WND S 10.1 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 30.02 FLG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:16 Sunset 7:29. 11 Apr: Hi 60.1° (1600) Lo 35.2° (0700) HDD 19 GUST E 16 MPH (1355) *** 21° greeted early risers in Joliet OTD in 1957. It was Joliet’s coldest April day in over 80 years. NNNN |
| 2026-04-11 | 7:00 AM | T | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 11 Apr: FG/MST 34.2° REL HMDTY 99% AQ 52 (moderate) DP 34.2° WND E 5.0 MPH WND CHL 30.2° BRM 30.40 STDY VIS 6.0 MI Sunrise 6:18 Sunset 7:28. 10 Apr: Hi 55.6° (1825) Lo 35.2° (0619) HDD 19 GUST NE 10 MPH (1015) *** Heralding Dust Bowl weather, a second consecutive day of 90° was registered OTD in 1930. This had never happened before or since in 155 years of April weather records in the Joliet area. NNNN |
| 2026-04-10 | 7:00 AM | 0.27 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 10 Apr: FG/MST 46.2° REL HMDTY 98% AQ 40 (good) DP 45.7° WND NW 1.1 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 30.09 STDY VIS 5.0 MI Sunrise 6:19 Sunset 7:27. 9 Apr: Hi 68.4° (1400) Lo 45.0° (0325) HDD 8 GUST N 8 MPH (1915) *** Our earliest 90° on the calendar showed up OTD in 1930 when WGN weather legend - aka “South Holland Songbird” - Roger Triemstra also arrived. NNNN |
| 2026-04-09 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 9 Apr: OVRCST 55.6° REL HMDTY 68% AQ 40 (good) DP 46.4° WND CLM 0.0 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 30.10 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:21 Sunset 7:25. 8 Apr: Hi 72.7° (1605) Lo 37.6° (0700) HDD 12 GUST S 33 MPH (1615) *** Over the years this has been a remarkably unremarkable day in area weather history: record high 78° (1952), record low 21° (1972), most rain 1.58” (1991), and most snow 1.8” (1961). NNNN |
| 2026-04-08 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 8 Apr: CLR 37.4° REL HMDTY 66% AQ 23 (good+) DP 27.0° WND SE 10.9 MPH WND CHL 30.4° BRM 30.27 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:23 Sunset 7:24. 7 Apr: Hi 44.6° (1630) Lo 30.0° (0700) HDD 31 GUST E 20 MPH (1055) *** A second record snow in three days hit this area in 1938. On the 6th, 9.0” came down and on the 8th another 4.5” disrupted a fractured Joliet spring. NNNN |
| 2026-04-07 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 7 Apr: CLR 29.7° REL HMDTY 72% AQ 30 (good) DP 21.7° WND NE 8.4 MPH WND CHL 22.7° BRM 30.43 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:24 Sunset 7:23. 6 Apr: Hi 53.8° (1455) Lo 29.7° (0559) HDD 23 GUST NW 22 MPH (1615) *** 1981-1982 was northeastern Illinois’ 5th coldest winter. It continued OTD with 7° of chilled mercury after 9.4” snow fell on the 5th. NNNN |
| 2026-04-06 | 7:00 AM | 0.01 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 6 Apr: CLR 41.4° REL HMDTY 90% AQ 25 (good+) DP 38.5° WND NW 10.3 MPH WND CHL 35.2° BRM 30.15 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:26 Sunset 7:22. 5 Apr: Hi 53.2° (1715) Lo 39.6° (0450) HDD 20 GUST NW 22 MPH (1615) *** Early spring of 1938 in northeastern Illinois was extremely warm (9.7° above average) and March produced but 2.8" snow. On April 6, however, 9.1" of heavy, wet snow and high winds created large drifts. Storms a few days later made that April – with 13.8” total - the only one ever to lead a winter snow season. In fact, 35% of that calendar year’s white stuff fell within the short aforementioned span. NNNN |
| 2026-04-05 | 6:00 AM | 0.19 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 5 Apr: OVRCST 37.4° REL HMDTY 78% AQ 25 (good+) DP 31.6° WND W 12.1 MPH WND CHL 30.6° BRM 30.03 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:28 Sunset 7:21. 4 Apr: Hi 61.0° (0925) Lo 37.4° (0517) HDD 16 GUST W 30 MPH (1955) *** EASTER EXTREMES: Hottest 85° (4/10/1977) Coldest 11° (3/24/1940) Rainiest 3” (3/31/1929) Snowiest 7.1” w/40 MPH winds (3/29/1964)
|
| 2026-04-04 | 7:00 AM | 1.42 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 4 Apr: LT R 49.8° REL HMDTY 99% AQ 16 (excellent) DP 49.1° WND E 5.1 MPH WND CHL 47.5° BRM 29.82 STDY VIS 2.5 MI Sunrise 6:29 Sunset 7:20. 3 Apr: Hi 61.7° (1450) Lo 39.9° (2150) HDD 14 GUST NE 28 MPH (2015) *** After nearly 10” of snow blanketed New Lenox 48 hours earlier in 1975, the morning low temperature OTD fell to 16°. NNNN |
| 2026-04-03 | 6:00 AM | 0.96 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 3 Apr: OVRCST 49.3° REL HMDTY 90% AQ 23 (good+) DP 46.4° WND W 10.5 MPH WND CHL 46.5° BRM 29.95 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:31 Sunset 7:19. 2 Apr: Hi 71.2° (1350) Lo 41.5° (0700) HDD 11 GUST S 36 MPH (1515) *** Driest April in 155 years of northeastern Illinois weather annals happened in the cold cycle of 1899 when 0.14” rain fell. Did lack of April showers result in few May flowers? NNNN |
| 2026-04-02 | 7:00 AM | 0.39 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 2 Apr: OVRCST 41.0° REL HMDTY 98% AQ 31 (good) DP 40.3° WND E 7.1 MPH WND CHL 36.8° BRM 29.89 FLG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:33 Sunset 7:18. 1 Apr: Hi 42.1° (1700) Lo 37.4° (0745) HDD NA GUST E 24 MPH (1915) *** Erratic spring of 1975 took another turn when 9.4” snow socked Joliet. NNNN |
| 2026-04-01 | 7:00 AM | 0.85 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | Pea-size to quarter-size hail occurred from 0930 to 0940. 1 Apr: LT R 38.8° REL HMDTY 87% AQ 28 (good+) DP 35.4° WND NE 16.2 MPH WND CHL 31.8° BRM 30.10 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:34 Sunset 7:17. 31 Mar: Hi 71.8° (1415) Lo 38.5° (0530) HDD l1 GUST NE 36 MPH (0315) *** April Fools’ Day was truly goofy for enthusiasts of warmth on this date in 1970. Just when people were ready for spring, 8.2” of heavy, wet snow visited northeastern Illinois. NNNN |
| 2026-03-31 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | PRECIPITATION: March 4.17" (norm 2.2") 2026 6.84" (5.9") SNOW: March 5.0" (norm 7.0") 2026 15.7" (30.4") Snow Season 37.3" (37.5") 31 Mar: OVRCST 63.9° REL HMDTY 77% AQ 41 (good) DP 56.7° WND SW 8.4 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 29.80 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:36 Sunset 7:16. 30 Mar: Hi 81.9° (1710) Lo 50.5° (0700) CDD 1 GUST SW 28 MPH (1615) *** March logged an average temperature of 57.4° in 2012. Wow, it was 5° warmer than the second-place World War II year of 1945. NNNN |
| 2026-03-30 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 30 Mar: OVRCST 49.3° REL HMDTY 72% AQ 39 (good) DP 40.3° WND S 3.2 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 29.95 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:39 Sunset 7:15. 29 Mar: Hi 63.3° (1605) Lo 38.3° (0710) HDD 13 GUST SW 24 MPH (1235) ** The “Year of No Winter” crawled to a close in 1878. Warm, late November 1877 portended what would ensue over the next four months. December temperatures were above average 30 days of 31. The following months featured nearly 20+ days of relative heat (and some all-time record warmth) with February hitting the jackpot at 28 of 28. Little snow fell and what did quickly melted. Average reading for that span was 37.2° and only nine days recorded temperatures below normal. Both marks have never been surpassed in the past 1 ½ centuries. NNNN |
| 2026-03-29 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 29 Mar: OVRCST 37.6° REL HMDTY 76% AQ 30 (good) DP 30.7° WND S 7.4 MPH WND CHL 33.6° BRM 30.24 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:39 Sunset 7:13. 28 Mar: Hi 50.9° (1730) Lo 23.7° (0710) HDD 27 GUST NW 47 MPH (1715) *** Snowiest and possibly worst Easter in the Joliet area happened OTD in 1964 when 7.1” snow thwarted my parents’ afternoon plans to take us to the Museum of Science and Industry. Worse was that temperatures rose to but a high of 29° and sank to a 19° low in the following 18 hours. On a warmer note, Newsmax weather gal Julia Fife turns 32 this fine day. NNNN |
| 2026-03-28 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 28 Mar: CLR 23.5° REL HMDTY 74% AQ 35 (good) DP 16.7° WND CLM 0.0 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 30.59 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:41 Sunset 7:12. 27 Mar: Hi 47.1° (1705) Lo 23.5° (0633) HDD 27 GUST NW 47 MPH (1715) *** Third-worst northeastern Illinois outbreak of tornadoes tore through Channahon, Lockport, and Chicago OTD in 1920. 28 died in the meteorological mayhem. NNNN |
| 2026-03-27 | 7:00 AM | 0.49 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 27 Mar: CLR 32.2° REL HMDTY 79% AQ 20 (excellent-) DP 26.4° WND N 21.5 MPH WND CHL 20.4° BRM 30.30 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:43 Sunset 7:11. 26 Mar: HL @ 1145 Hi 75.2° (1205) Lo 32.2° (0639) HDD 13 GUST N 47 MPH (2155) *** Palm Sunday dust storm and tornadoes in Joliet killed two 91 years ago today (1935). On a far happier note, this station in New Lenox filed its first CoCoRaHS observation in 2010. Whew, 16 years and 6,258 observations! NNNN |
| 2026-03-26 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 26 Mar: CLR 55.0° REL HMDTY 94% AQ 88 (moderate-) DP 53.6° WND S 5.1 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 29.73 FLG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:44 Sunset 7:10. 25 Mar: Hi 72.7° (1700) Lo 41.0° (0725) HDD 8 GUST SW 26 MPH (1715) *** Greatest one-hour drop in northeastern Illinois temperatures happened OTD during the cold cycle of 1908 when 71° at 2 p.m. became 41° but 60 minutes later. NNNN |
| 2026-03-25 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 25 Mar: OVRCST 41.7° REL HMDTY 65% AQ 47 (moderate) DP 31.1° WND SE 6.8 MPH WND CHL 37.9° BRM 30.09 FLG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:46 Sunset 7:09. 24 Mar: Hi 56.7° (1720) Lo 27.5° (0715) HDD 24 GUST S 17 MPH (0955) *** “Freak of nature” snowstorm dropped 19.2” of white suffering on northeastern Illinois OTD and the next in 1930. So much for the hot, dusty days of the early thirties. NNNN |
| 2026-03-24 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 24 Mar: OVRCST 27.9° REL HMDTY 71% AQ 42 (moderate) DP 19.8° WND S 9.2 MPH WND CHL 19.9° BRM 30.37 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:48 Sunset 7:08. 23 Mar: Hi 46.0° (1600) Lo 27.0° (0240) HDD 29 GUST N 23 MPH (0935) *** Northeastern Illinois’ coldest Easter was OTD in 1940 and featured an 11° morning minimum, 1” snow on the ground, and a sorry high of only 23°. NNNN |
| 2026-03-23 | 7:00 AM | T | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 23 Mar: OVRCST 30.7° REL HMDTY 75% AQ 20 (excellent) DP 23.7° WND N 8.1 MPH WND CHL 23.7° BRM 30.29 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:50 Sunset 7:08. 22 Mar: Hi 61.5° (0700) Lo 29.1° (0420) HDD 15 GUST N 33 MPH (1335) *** In 155 years of weather records in northeastern Illinois there have been only five occasions when daily high temperatures rose/dropped 30+ degrees on back-to-back-back days. 2017 was the most recent when 50° on the 23rd was followed by a balmy 82° only to have the mercury plummet to 45° on the 25th. NNNN |
| 2026-03-22 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 22 Mar: OVRCST 63.3° REL HMDTY 73% AQ 52 (moderate+) DP 54.5° WND N 5.4 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 29.62 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:51 Sunset 7:06. 21 Mar: Hi 79.7° (1725) Lo 45.5° (0700) HDD 6 GUST SW 20 MPH (1635) *** Ninth consecutive and final record-high minimum of 61° graced Will County OTD in 2012. As plants, shrubs, and trees exploded out of the ground, a long, long drought then began. NNNN |
| 2026-03-21 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 21 Mar: CLR 45.3° REL HMDTY 81% AQ 76 (moderate) DP 39.7° WND SE 5.1 MPH WND CHL 43.3° BRM 29.92 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:53 Sunset 7:04. 20 Mar: Hi 73.8° (1600) Lo 44.6° (0510) HDD 9 GUST NW 20 MPH (1515) *** Warm as it's forecast to be this fine day, we'll likely be nowhere near 2012's epoch event. The 21st was the second-hottest March day across 155 years of area history. Our bubble of mercury topped at 87°. Only an 88° on 29 March 1986 outranks this mark. NNNN |
| 2026-03-20 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 20 Mar: CLR 46.6° REL HMDTY 87% AQ 93 (moderate-) DP 43.0° WND SE 1.1 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 29.82 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:55 Sunset 7:03. 19 Mar: Hi 70.5° (1640) Lo 45.9° (1005) HDD 17 GUST E 21 MPH (1755) *** 1960’s third month still holds the standard as the coldest March in 155 years of northeastern Illinois records. Nine days of that long-ago time had daily maximums that did not crack 30° while 26 of the days featured high temperatures that were 39° or less. A brief warm spell late in the month prevented the month from being colder than the great majorities of Februarys. One day (the 29th) had a high of 72° while no other approached a maximum reading of even 60°. NNNN |
| 2026-03-19 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 19 Mar: CLR 33.6° REL HMDTY 93% AQ 66 (moderate) DP 31.8° WND NE 1.1 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 30.05 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:56 Sunset 7:02. 18 Mar: Hi 50.2° (1650) Lo 23.9° (0700) HDD 30 GUST SW 20 MPH (1255) *** Screwball span of 36 hours came our way one year ago (2025). Temperature on the 19th reached 64.8° by 1100 hours – normal daily maximum for that date is 48.2° - but quickly collapsed by 21° as cold BROWN rain began to fall. Caused in part by dust storms to the west, the ugly dihydrogen monoxide registered 0.58” in this venerable viewer’s CoCoRaHS gauge. Later that night, discolored snow moved in and totaled 2.0” with a soggy snow/water ratio of 10:1. In typical Midwestern fashion, the snow vanished by noon on the 20th and was replaced by blue skies and gentle breezes from the south. NNNN |
| 2026-03-18 | 7:00 AM | 0.04 | 1.0 | NA | NA | NA | | Record for lowest Joliet maximum on any 3/17 (50 years of records) was reached when mercury failed to break 24.3°. Previous mark was 26° in 2014. 18 Mar: OVRCST 23.4° REL HMDTY 91% AQ 18 (excellent) DP 21.2° WND S 10.9 MPH WND CHL 13.4° BRM 30.04 FLG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:58 Sunset 7:01. 17 Mar: Hi 24.3° (1505) Lo 13.5° (0720) HDD 46 GUST S 17 MPH (2335) *** Middle day of incredible nine-day hot – not warm - streak in 2012 featured 81° maximum OTD! NNNN |
| 2026-03-17 | 7:00 AM | 0.10 | 2.5 | NA | NA | NA | | 17 Mar: CLDS 15.1° REL HMDTY 72% AQ 18 (excellent) DP 8.2° WND NW 7.2 MPH WND CHL 6.1° BRM 30.05 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 7:00 Sunset 7:00. 16 Mar: Hi 28.0° (1545) Lo 15.1° (0605) HDD 41 GUST W 30 MPH (1555) *** St. Patrick’s Day records are as follows: warmest was 82° in 2012, coldest minimum 0° 1900, coldest maximum 11° 1941, wettest had 1.42” rain in 1965, and the snowiest featured 4.1” of silent suffering in Orwell’s year of 1984. NNNN |
| 2026-03-16 | 7:00 AM | 1.33 | 1.5 | 0.04 | NA | NA | | 16 Mar: SNW 24.6° REL HMDTY 93% AQ 31 (good) DP 22.8° WND NW 11.4 MPH WND CHL 13.4° BRM 29.44 RSG VIS 1.5 MI Sunrise 7:01 Sunset 6:59. 15 Mar: Hi 63.3° (1615) Lo 24.6° (0617) HDD 18 GUST NW 39 MPH (1715) *** 13° high and -1° low OTD in 1900 heralded the final calendar year of the 19th century. NNNN |
| 2026-03-15 | 7:00 AM | T | T | T | NA | NA | | 15 Mar: CLR 43.2° REL HMDTY 63% AQ 20 (excellent) DP 31.5° WND SE 7.4 MPH WND CHL 39.2° BRM 29.57 FLG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 7:03 Sunset 6:58. 14 Mar: Hi 43.2° (0632) Lo 30.2° (0725) HDD 32 GUST E 23 MPH (0155) *** For Caesar and the rest of you, beware the Ides of March! Maximum temperature of but 17° occurred OTD during Illinois’ epic cold cycle in 1893. NNNN |
| 2026-03-14 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 14 Mar: CLDS 30.2° REL HMDTY 70% AQ 29 (good) DP 21.6° WND NE 5.0 MPH WND CHL 25.2° BRM 30.17 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 7:05 Sunset 6:57. 13 Mar: Hi 47.7° (1655) Lo 30.2° (0705) HDD 25 GUST W 49 MPH (1015) *** Hum-drum March exploded OTD in 2012 as the earliest 80° (81°!) in area history was registered. The toasty 24 hours kicked off an unprecedented long string of mid-March record highs. Much earlier, gentleman Jerry Taft of Chicago weather fame was born in 1943 and would meet the Lord on 23 July 2020. NNNN |
| 2026-03-13 | 7:00 AM | 0.02 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 13 Mar: CLDS 43.3° REL HMDTY 67% AQ 29 (good) DP 32.9° WND SW 17.9 MPH WND CHL 36.2° BRM 29.47 FLG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 7:06 Sunset 6:56. 12 Mar: Hi 46.4° (1630) Lo 29.1° (0705) HDD 26 GUST S 36 MPH (0355) *** New Lenox was lambasted by heavy wet snow of 4” amidst a narrow band of temperatures (31°-27°) OTD in 2017. Chilly temperatures which followed allowed the snow to stick around for three more days. NNNN |
| 2026-03-12 | 7:00 AM | 0.23 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 12 Mar: CLDS 28.8° REL HMDTY 90% AQ 50 (mod) DP 26.1° WND SW 5.1 MPH WND CHL 23.8° BRM 30.16 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 7:08 Sunset 6:55. 11 Mar: Hi 45.0° (0700) Lo 28.6° (0611) HDD 26 GUST NW 23 MPH (1455) *** This date in 1902 was sadly soggy and noted as being one of only four March days in area history with over 2” rain. NNNN |
| 2026-03-11 | 7:00 AM | 0.78 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 11 Mar: OVRCST 52.3° REL HMDTY 99% AQ 31 (good) DP 51.8° WND N 7.1 MPH WND CHL 49.3° BRM 29.59 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 7:10 Sunset 6:54. 10 Mar: Hi 66.4° (1120) Lo 41.7° (1835) HDD 14 GUST NE 25 MPH (2255) *** Remarkably unremarkable day in northeastern Illinois weather history with no record of any suffocating snowfalls, raucous rainfalls, enervating extremes of heat/cold, terrible tornadoes, or wild winds over a span of 155 years. NNNN |
| 2026-03-10 | 7:00 AM | T | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 10 Mar: CLR 59.4° REL HMDTY 97% AQ 29 (good) DP 58.8° WND SW 5.2 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 29.80 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 7:11 Sunset 6:52. 9 Mar: Hi 73.0° (1505) Lo 43.7° (0735) HDD 4 GUST S 26 MPH (1755) *** 60 MPH winds whipped New Lenox in 2021 as a maximum of 69° on 9 March dove toward 30° less than 24 hours later. NNNN |
| 2026-03-09 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 9 Mar: CLR 45.1° REL HMDTY 76% AQ 19 (excellent) DP 36.1° WND SW 8.2 MPH WND CHL 42.2° BRM 29.77 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 7:13 Sunset 6:51. 8 Mar: Hi 63.0° (1705) Lo 34.3° (0700) HDD 17 GUST SW 28 MPH (1555) *** Balmy high of 69° graced the Lincoln-Way area OTFineD in 2021 but it’s in the record books as the only March daily maximum record not to exceed 70°. NNNN |
| 2026-03-08 | 7:00 AM | 0.03 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 8 Mar: OVRCST 34.3° REL HMDTY 92% AQ 21 (excellent) DP 32.2° WND SW 14.4 MPH WND CHL 25.3° BRM 29.95 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 7:15 Sunset 6:50. 7 Mar: Hi 61.5° (1500) Lo 33.4° (0350) HDD 14 GUST W 32 MPH (1115) *** 60 MPH winds raged OTD in 2017 as temperatures rapidly dropped from 65° to 40°. NNNN |
| 2026-03-07 | 7:00 AM | 1.04 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 7 Mar: OVRCST 59.7° REL HMDTY 99% AQ 22 (excellent) DP 59.4° WND S 9.2 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 29.71 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:16 Sunset 5:49. 6 Mar: Hi 76.3° (Joliet record!) (1500) Lo 51.4° (0700) HDD 11 GUST SW 25 MPH (1555) *** Incredibly low 5.7” snow fell on the Chicago area from November 1930 through February 1931. On this date, however, 16.2” of heavy wet snow (H2O 0.88”) arrived in the City of Champions, aka, the City of Stone and Steel. NNNN |
| 2026-03-06 | 7:00 AM | 0.04 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 6 Mar: FG/MST 51.1° REL HMDTY 99% AQ 72 (moderate) DP 50.5° WND SE 6.4 MPH WND CHL 48.9° BRM 29.97 STDY VIS 2.5 MI Sunrise 6:18 Sunset 5:48. 5 Mar: Hi 52.7° (1455) Lo 42.1° (0720) HDD 20 GUST NE 7 MPH (1115) *** Second of three consecutive dangerous winters featured 0° low and 7” snow smothering the Manhattan miles on this late date in 1978. NNNN |
| 2026-03-05 | 7:00 AM | 0.06 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 5 Mar: OVRCST 42.1° REL HMDTY 99% AQ 80 (moderate) DP 41.5° WND N 1.1 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 29.94 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:20 Sunset 5:46. 4 Mar: Hi 45.0° (1410) Lo 37.0° (0700) HDD 26 GUST E 10 MPH (1015) *** Bone-blasting overnight minimum of -7° OTD in 2002 is still the lowest temperature so late in northeastern Illinois’ November-to-April snow season. NNNN |
| 2026-03-04 | 7:00 AM | T | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 4 Mar: OVRCST 36.7° REL HMDTY 86% AQ 74 (moderate) DP 32.9° WND NE 8.4 MPH WND CHL 30.7° BRM 30.10 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:22 Sunset 5:45. 3 Mar: Hi 42.6° (1440) Lo 32.9° (0035) HDD 27 GUST NE 10 MPH (1915) *** -12° OTD in 1873 was the final onslaught of the horrible cold cycle in the 1872-1873 winter. NNNN |
| 2026-03-03 | 7:00 AM | T | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 3 Mar: OVRCST 34.3° REL HMDTY 77% AQ 45 (good) DP 28.0° WND SE 5.1 MPH WND CHL 30.5° BRM 30.12 FLG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:23 Sunset 5:44. 2 Mar: Hi 48.6° (1545) Lo 24.3° (0700) HDD 31 GUST SE 17 MPH (1155) *** Earliest 80° in the calendar year happened on this date in 1974 as your future CoCoRaHS guy watched a terrific Joliet Central baseball team (two future major leaguers) run through a very sweaty outdoor practice. NNNN |
| 2026-03-02 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 2 Mar: CLR 23.5° REL HMDTY 69% AQ 33 (good) DP 14.9° WND SE 7.2 MPH WND CHL 15.5° BRM 30.38 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:24 Sunset 5:43. 1 Mar: Hi 36.0° (1315) Lo 23.5° (0624) HDD 37 GUST E 22 MPH (0835) *** Least snowiest winter (November through the end of March) happened over 100 years ago (1920-21) when only 9.8” whitened the Illinois prairie. NNNN |
| 2026-03-01 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 1 Mar: CLR 24.8° REL HMDTY 68% AQ 25 (good) DP 15.8° WND NE 7.2 MPH WND CHL 16.8° BRM 30.37 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:26 Sunset 5:42. 28 Feb: Hi 41.0° (1055) Lo 24.8° (0624) HDD 29 GUST NE 22 MPH (1855) *** Snowiest March was in 1926 when 23.1” fell. Least snowiest was but a trace in 2000. NNNN |
| 2026-02-28 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | PRECIPITATION: February 0.26" (norm 1.8") 2026 2.68" (3.7") Winter 4.76" (5.7") SNOW: February 0.7" (norm 12.9") 2026 10.7" (23.4") Winter 20.3" (28.4") Snow Season 32.3" (30.4") 28 Feb: CLR 29.8° REL HMDTY 80% AQ 40 (good) DP 25.2° WND CLM 0.0 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 30.04 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:28 Sunset 5:41. 27 Feb: Hi 68.0° (1610) Lo 29.8° (0634) HDD 35 GUST SW 22 MPH (1235) *** OTD in 1994 the earliest last measurable snow of the season (1.0") came through the Lincoln-Way area. More than a generation earlier (1957) the Hickory/Spring Creek floods brought a mammoth 20,000 CFS of dihydrogen monoxide surging into the Des Plaines River. The deathly pollutant caused thousands to be displaced in Joliet and the neighboring hamlet of New Lenox. Ban this deadly substance! www.dhmoban.org/faq/. NNNN |
| 2026-02-27 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 27 Feb: FRZ FG 26.8° REL HMDTY 99% AQ 53 (mod) DP 26.6° WND CLM 0.0 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 29.89 STDY VIS 0.25 MI Sunrise 6:29 Sunset 5:39. 26 Feb: Hi 43.7° (1620) Lo 23.9° (0700) HDD 35 GUST SW 9.2 MPH (1350) *** February 2015 hit the record books as being the coldest month since the awful December of 1983. OTD the high was but 19° and the low -6°. A day later, the maximum was only 13° and the minimum -5° with 4” snow on the ground. NNNN |
| 2026-02-26 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 26 Feb: CLDS 23.2° REL HMDTY 68% AQ 53 (mod) DP 14.0° WND NE 5.0 MPH WND CHL 13.0° BRM 29.88 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:30 Sunset 5:38. 25 Feb: Hi 39.2° (1600) Lo 23.0° (0617) HDD 33 GUST W 17.3 MPH (0920) *** A glorious afternoon temperature of 71° shattered the old heat standard by seven degrees OTD in 2024. It was the third-warmest February mark in 153 years of records. The following day also witnessed readings in the low 70s but 11 tornadoes exploded across Northern Illinois. Bad day for ancraophobics. NNNN |
| 2026-02-25 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 25 Feb: CLR 26.4° REL HMDTY 86% AQ 37 (good) DP 22.8° WND W 8.1 MPH WND CHL 18.0° BRM 29.61 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:31 Sunset 5:37. 24 Feb: Hi 39.0° (2005) Lo 19.9° (0700) HDD 35 GUST S 24 MPH (0955) *** In the 19th century’s temperate cycle, 1878 saw northeastern Illinois’ warmest meteorological winter which neared an end with but one day (7 January) having had a sub-20° high. Minimums beneath 10° were recorded on just four days. The maximums from 10 to 25 December were in the 50s each day and thus no white Christmas. NNNN |
| 2026-02-24 | 7:00 AM | T | T | T | NA | NA | | 24 Feb: OVRCST 19.6° REL HMDTY 80% AQ 33 (good) DP 14.2° WND SE 1.1 MPH WND CHL 19.6° BRM 30.03 FLG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:32 Sunset 5:36. 23 Feb: Hi 30.7° (1605) Lo 17.8° (2330) HDD 41 GUST NW 15 MPH (1055) *** Snow depth from continual storms was still at 12” OTD in 1967. To make matters worse, this morning 59 years ago witnessed the mercury plummeting to -6° with an HDD of 61 near the end of northeastern Illinois’ wretched meteorological winter. This record lasted but three years and then was smashed several more times in the late 1970s. NNNN |
| 2026-02-23 | 7:00 AM | T | T | T | NA | NA | | 23 Feb: OVRCST 19.6° REL HMDTY 79% AQ 19 (excellent) DP 14.6° WND NW 6.9 MPH WND CHL 11.6° BRM 30.40 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:35 Sunset 5:35. 22 Feb: Hi 27.3° (1235) Lo 17.2° (0515) HDD 42 GUST NW 22 MPH (1235) *** In 1873 OTD the third of four consecutive double-digit below-zero temperatures (-18°) made the climatological annals of the Lincoln-Way towns. NNNN |
| 2026-02-22 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 22 Feb: OVRCST 21.6° REL HMDTY 74% AQ 26 (good) DP 14.5° WND NW 9.1 MPH WND CHL 9.9° BRM 30.19 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:37 Sunset 5:33. 21 Feb: Hi 28.9° (1405) Lo 21.6° (0607) HDD 39 GUST NW 43 MPH (0320) *** During the second full year of northeastern Illinois weather data (1873), 51° was recorded on the 21st but -14° one day later. As Prairie State residents often say, if you don’t like today's weather, just wait 24 hours. NNNN |
| 2026-02-21 | 7:00 AM | T | T | T | NA | NA | | 21 Feb: OVRCST 24.3° REL HMDTY 83% AQ 23 (good) DP 19.8° WND W 7.2 MPH WND CHL 16.3° BRM 30.07 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:38 Sunset 5:32. 20 Feb: Hi 38.0° (0700) Lo 24.3° (0630) HDD 28 GUST W 43 MPH (1245) *** A record-high minimum of 49° OTD highlighted a wonderful seven-day heat streak in 2017. NNNN |
| 2026-02-20 | 7:00 AM | 0.06 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 20 Feb: OVRCST 32.0° REL HMDTY 68% AQ 35 (good) DP 28.9° WND SW 29.4 MPH WND CHL 18.8° BRM 29.40 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:40 Sunset 5:31. 19 Feb: Hi 57.9° (1025) Lo 32.0° (0619) HDD 17 GUST SW 40 MPH (0330) *** Retired WGN weather wizard Tom Skilling was born OTD in the far-west suburbs in 1952. Not the best-looking (Cheryl & Emily, woo-woo!) but the best forecaster. NNNN |
| 2026-02-19 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 19 Feb: CLDS 38.1° REL HMDTY 67% AQ 52 (mod) DP 28.0° WND CLM 0.0 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 29.62 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:41 Sunset 5:30. 18 Feb: Hi 64.4° (1415) Lo 35.1° (0315) HDD 10 GUST W 32 MPH (1435) *** Bizarre early season cloudburst brought 3 ½ to 4 inches of rain to the Lincoln-Way area OTD in 2018. As always with events such as this, Hickory Creek abandoned its banks in the middle of New Lenox. NNNN |
| 2026-02-18 | 7:00 AM | 0.16 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 18 Feb: FG/MST 52.7° REL HMDTY 93% AQ 39 (good) DP 50.5° WND S 17.8 MPH WND CHL 47.3° BRM 29.49 FLG VIS 6 MI Sunrise 6:43 Sunset 5:28. 17 Feb: Hi 57.6° (1345) Lo 38.8° (0700) HDD 16 GUST S 32 MPH (0315) *** When local folks start to sniff spring, Mother Nature often throws a wicked curveball. OTD in 2006, Chicagoland endured a -7° low, 9° high, and braved sustained northwest winds of 10-17 mph. NNNN |
| 2026-02-17 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 66.0° @ 1525 broke 1976's record (65°)for warmest 2/16 in Joliet area! 17 Feb: CLDS 38.3° REL HMDTY 95% AQ 47 (good) DP 36.3° WND SE 6.1 MPH WND CHL 33.3° BRM 29.95 STDY VIS 9 MI Sunrise 6:44 Sunset 5:27. 16 Feb: Hi 66.0° (1525) Lo 35.1° (0700) HDD 15 GUST SW 23 MPH (1415) *** Even better than yesterday, just nine years ago (2017) the day’s maximum reading was 67° with full sun plus light zephyrs. This was the first of a seven-day, unseasonal heat wave. 2/18’s high was 70°, 2/19 featured 69°, 2/20 a 70°, 2/21 only 67°, and 2/22 68°. NNNN |
| 2026-02-16 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 16 Feb: HVY FG 35.1° REL HMDTY 99% AQ 55 (moderate) DP 34.7° WND CLM 0.0 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 29.95 STDY VIS 0.25 MI Sunrise 6:45 Sunset 5:26. 15 Feb: Hi 61.3° (1555) Lo 29.7° (0700) HDD 20 GUST W 17 MPH (1115) *** Northeastern Illinois’ final string of brutal winters paused OTD in 1985 with the end of 33 consecutive days below freezing (January 20th had witnessed -27°). TWC's wind-whipped, water-lashed legend Jim Cantore was born in 1964. NNNN |
| 2026-02-15 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 15 Feb: CLDS 29.7° REL HMDTY 97% AQ 102 (UNHEALTHY) DP 29.3° WND W 3.0 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 29.93 STDY VIS 8 MI Sunrise 6:47 Sunset 5:25. 14 Feb: Hi 46.4° (1350) Lo 28.4° (0700) HDD 25 GUST S 7 MPH (0350) *** Winter ebbed early in 2023 as exemplified by an epoch-low 6% of Lake Michigan enveloped by ice. NNNN |
| 2026-02-14 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 14 Feb: CLR 28.8° REL HMDTY 89% AQ 54 (moderate) DP 26.1° WND SE 3.0 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 30.03 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:48 Sunset 5:23. 13 Feb: Hi 54.5° (1445) Lo 26.8° (0700) HDD 25 GUST SW 20 MPH (1235) *** Our meteorological “St. Valentine’s Day Massacre” happened in 1990. Mother Nature showed no heart on the day of love as New Lenox recorded 7.8” wet snow composed of 0.78” dihydrogen monoxide. (In local weather history the next closest to this was a relatively puny 3.3” in 1973.) The storm of more than a third of a century ago was accompanied by zero visibility from northeast devils of 35-40 MPH and a rare closure of O’Hare International. NNNN |
| 2026-02-13 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 13 Feb: CLR 26.8° REL HMDTY 86% AQ 50 (moderate) DP 23.2° WND SE 3.4 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 30.19 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:49 Sunset 5:22. 12 Feb: Hi 44.8° (1650) Lo 24.1° (0230) HDD 33 GUST E 7 MPH (1835) *** 150+ years of local weather data shows that 1905 was the 11th-coldest northeastern Illinois meteorological winter. The year bottomed OTD with an -18° low and -4° high as the 1880-1915 cool cycle continued. Also, this was the coldest day so late during winter in Chicagoland history. NNNN |
| 2026-02-12 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 12 Feb: CLR 24.4° REL HMDTY 93% AQ 58 (moderate) DP 22.8° WND CLM 0.0 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 30.26 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:51 Sunset 5:21. 11 Feb: Hi 43.5° (1555) Lo 23.2° (0440) HDD 31 GUST NW 18 MPH (1415) *** 1894's celebration of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday was cancelled in Joliet during the area’s epic cold cycle. Honest Abe might’ve wanted it so with winds that peaked with an 87 MPH gust and nearly eight inches of fresh snow. Sorry, Vachel Lindsay, Mr. Lincoln would not have wanted to walk at midnight. Heck, a second Emancipation Proclamation of his was needed to liberate people from that terrible weather. NNNN |
| 2026-02-11 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 11 Feb: CLR 25.0° REL HMDTY 84% AQ 24 (good) DP 22.3° WND W 5.2 MPH WND CHL 19.2° BRM 30.18 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:52 Sunset 5:20. 10 Feb: Hi 49.5° (1440) Lo 25.0° (0637) HDD 25 GUST N 20 MPH (1515) *** In a weather scenario more typical of central Illinois, the Lincoln-Way area was hit by a vicious storm OTD in 2019 which brought one-half to two-thirds of an inch of ice that was borne by 40 MPH winds. Forty miles north? Snow. Forty miles south? Rain. NNNN |
| 2026-02-10 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 10 Feb: CLR 32.0° REL HMDTY 91% AQ 49 (good-) DP 29.5° WND CLM 0.0 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 29.80 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:53 Sunset 5:18. 9 Feb: Hi 39.2° (1530) Lo 18.9° (0700) HDD 35 GUST S 12 MPH (2155) *** The final of nine consecutive days with measurable snow hit the record books OTD in 2018. The month would turn out to be wet with 4.64” precipitation accumulated. NNNN |
| 2026-02-09 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 9 Feb: CLR 18.9° REL HMDTY 84% AQ 55 (moderate) DP 14.7° WND E 6.0 MPH WND CHL 10.9° BRM 30.18 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:54 Sunset 5:17. 8 Feb: Hi 29.3° (1620) Lo 18.9° (0700) HDD 39 GUST SE 21 MPH (1355) *** The horrendous winter of 1976-1977 inflicted a 1,053-hour streak of sub-freezing temperatures on Chicagoland residents. The killer cold finally ended at 1000 hours OTD when the mercury inched above 32°. NNNN |
| 2026-02-08 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 8 Feb: CLR 19.4° REL HMDTY 90% AQ 37 (good) DP 17.1° WND E 8.1 MPH WND CHL 9.3° BRM 30.31 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:56 Sunset 5:15. 7 Feb: Hi 28.6° (1535) Lo 11.8° (0715) HDD 46 GUST E 8.1 MPH (0646) *** Greatest 12-hour temperature drop in northeastern Illinois history happened on this glorious day in 1900. Mercury collapsed from 62° with 70 mph winds and a thunderstorms to an Arctic front that resulted in a 10° reading. On a happier note, solid-in-his-predictions NBC Chicago weather guy Brant Miller was born OTD in 1950. As Frank crooned, it was a very good year. NNNN |
| 2026-02-07 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 7 Feb: CLR 11.8° REL HMDTY 66% AQ 26 (good) DP 2.8° WND N 5.5 MPH WND CHL 3.7° BRM 30.37 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:57 Sunset 5:15. 6 Feb: Hi 38.1° (1615) Lo 11.7° (0630) HDD 37 GUST NW 23 MPH (1235) *** In 1979 more misery came OTD with another overnight minimum of -20°. From New Year’s Day through 6 February the average temperature was 3°. NNNN |
| 2026-02-06 | 7:00 AM | 0.02 | 0.3 | 0.02 | NA | NA | | 6 Feb: FG/MST 27.3° REL HMDTY 95% AQ 63 (moderate) DP 25.9° WND SW 1.1 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 29.64 FLG VIS 5 MI Sunrise 6:58 Sunset 5:13. 5 Feb: Hi 29.7° (1315) Lo 16.5° (0700) HDD 42 GUST S 21 MPH (1415) *** Geezow, back to 1967. 9” new snow fell on top of what was still on the ground from the storms of 26/27 January. 36” in 11 days! As important but 56 years earlier, future President Ronald Reagan was born above the town bakery in Tampico, Illinois. NNNN |
| 2026-02-05 | 7:00 AM | T | T | T | NA | NA | | 5 Feb: CLR 15.3° REL HMDTY 94% AQ 51 (moderate) DP 12.5° WND E 2.2 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 30.12 FLG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 6:59 Sunset 5:12. 4 Feb: Hi 27.9° (1650) Lo 10.8° (0235) HDD 44 GUST N 6 MPH (1215) *** OTD in 1979 during northeastern Illinois’s second-coldest winter, the annals of awful weather continued with a -20° low, 76 HDD, and an almost unimaginable snow depth of 29”. NNNN |
| 2026-02-04 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | --> Mercury broke above 32° at 1420 yesterday. Lincoln-Way area had endured 426 consecutive hours of freezing weather going back to 16 January. 4 Feb: OVRCST 20.8° REL HMDTY 82% AQ 51 (moderate) DP 16.2° WND N 5.0 MPH WND CHL 13.8° BRM 30.34 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 7:00 Sunset 5:11. 3 Feb: Hi 32.7° (1420) Lo 20.1° (0540) HDD 43 GUST NE 10 MPH (1735) *** Warmest February came way back in 2024: 39.5° was the mean temperature over the 29 days. The month was 10.7° warmer than average. NNNN |
| 2026-02-03 | 7:00 AM | 0.02 | 0.4 | 0.03 | NA | NA | | 3 Feb: OVRCST 21.2° REL HMDTY 95% AQ 52 (moderate) DP 19.9° WND CLM 0.0 MPH WND CHL --.-° BRM 30.15 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 7:01 Sunset 5:10. 2 Feb: Hi 27.5° (1405) Lo 17.2° (2110) HDD 47 GUST W 9 MPH (1415) *** Snow depth was 24” in 2015 following the “Super Bowl Blizzard” - the Bears were NOT in that game - on the 31st (12.3”), 3” snow falling a day later, and 4” on 2 February. NNNN |
| 2026-02-02 | 7:00 AM | T | T | T | NA | NA | | 2 Feb: OVRCST 23.0° REL HMDTY 95% AQ 52 (moderate) DP 21.6° WND W 6.2 MPH WND CHL 15.8° BRM 30.07 STDY VIS 7 MI Sunrise 7:02 Sunset 5:08. 1 Feb: Hi 28.6° (1500) Lo 4.8° (0700) HDD 47 GUST S 20 MPH (1935) *** In 2011 the Groundhog Day storm ended (1/31-2/2) with a total of 21.2” snow. It was/is the third-largest winter storm in northeastern Illinois. A man who covered it for WGN, retired weatherman Tom Skilling was born on this day in 1952. NNNN |
| 2026-02-01 | 7:00 AM | T | T | T | NA | NA | | 1 Feb: CLR 5.2° REL HMDTY 93% AQ 54 (moderate) DP 3.4° WND CLM 0.0 MPH WND CHL -.-° BRM 30.31 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 7:03 Sunset 5:07. 31 Jan: Hi 27.3° (1450) Lo 5.2° (0648) HDD 47 GUST N 20 MPH (1255) *** The Groundhog Day storm began striking the area during early afternoon OTD in 2015. The resulting 16” of wet snow in New Lenox helped the month to become the snowiest February in northeastern Illinois history. 0.87” in liquid-equivalent precipitation also was a record for ANY February day. OPPOSITES? 1) No February snow fell in 1987, 1998, and 2017. 2) Record February warmth came in 2024 with the month’s average temperature of 39.5° that broke a 142-year standard. NNNN |
| 2026-01-31 | 7:00 AM | T | T | T | NA | NA | | Precipitation: Winter '25-26 4.81" (norm 3.9") Jan 2.42" (1.9") Snow: Snow Season Nov-Jan 31.6" (norm 17") Winter 19.6" (15.5") Jan 10.0" (10.5") 31 Jan: OVRCST 13.3° REL HMDTY 81% AQ 34 (good) DP 8.8° WND W 9.2 MPH WND CHL 1.0° BRM 30.36 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 7:04 Sunset 5:06. 30 Jan: Hi 21.2° (1350) Lo 4.1° (0700) HDD 53 GUST NW 21 MPH (0115) *** It's been a date of extremes. Must’ve seemed like spring when it was 65° in 1989 but -21° in 2019 (after -23° the day before) was very, very wintery. NNNN |
| 2026-01-30 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 30 Jan: OVRCST 3.2° REL HMDTY 85% AQ 51 (moderate) DP 0.6° WND W 5.0 MPH WND CHL -7.0° BRM 30.32 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 7:05 Sunset 5:05. 29 Jan: Hi 19.0° (1400) Lo -3.5° (0435) HDD 56 GUST N 8 MPH (2135) *** 1977’s final bit of miserable January weather happened on the 30th when 60 mph winds and -20° on the Joliet thermometers made for -62° of wind chill. Once again, US routes 30, 45, and 52 were closed through the Lincoln-Way area. NNNN |
| 2026-01-29 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 29 Jan: CLR 0.9° REL HMDTY 81% AQ 45 (good) DP -3.5° WND NW 7.0 MPH WND CHL -12.0° BRM 30.28 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 7:06 Sunset 5:03. 28 Jan: Hi 18.9° (1505) Lo -0.5° (0505) HDD 56 GUST W 21 MPH (1435) *** Happy birthday to Cheryl Scott, one of this CoCoRaHS man’s favorite Chicago weather forecasters. She turns 41 this fine day. When Cheryl was a young lass in 2008, a temperature drop of 50° happened over a span of just ten hours. 49° at 1551 hours OTD became -1° at 0151 on the 30th. NNNN |
| 2026-01-28 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 28 Jan: CLR 0.0° REL HMDTY 86% AQ 50 (good-) DP -3.9° WND W 8.2 MPH WND CHL -13.1° BRM 30.22 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 7:07 Sunset 5:02. 27 Jan: Hi 14.7° (1455) Lo -0.8° (0100) HDD 55 GUST W 26 MPH (0835) *** A post-mortem on the January 1967 blizzard: 23+ inches of snow, peak gusts of 53 MPH, 4-6’ drifts, 20,000 cars/1,100 CTA buses stranded/abandoned, $150,000,000 ($1.4 billion in 2026 money) in business losses, and both major Chicago airports shutdown for five days. Ten years later OTD, a -17° minimum, winds of 40 MPH (wind chill -52°), 9” blowing snow on the ground, and the vital I-80/US 30 interchange totally snowbound made New Lenox isolated from the world for 36 hours. NNNN |
| 2026-01-27 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 27 Jan: CLDS 14.2° REL HMDTY 80% AQ 33 (good) DP 9.1° WND SW 15.2 MPH WND CHL -1.2° BRM 29.95 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 7:08 Sunset 5:01. 26 Jan: Hi 14.2° (0611) Lo -3.5° (0720) HDD 60 GUST S 29 MPH (2055) *** The great blizzard of 1967 concluded OTD at 1010 hours. 6.6” of additional snow made the total 23” (2.4” H2O). That event is still the #1 northeastern Illinois snowstorm. Two tales of storm memories are still vivid in the minds of a pair of CoCoRaHS guys. 1) In Joliet, a 16-year-old attended a tripleheader college basketball bonanza at the Chicago Stadium. Eight other riders (two adults and SIX teens) were packed into Joliet Central athletic director Ken Parker’s station wagon. With the Dan Ryan Expressway but one lane in each direction, this nonet did not manage to arrive home until 3 a.m. 2) In Oak Forest, future DuPage County CoCoRaHS legend Joe Neilly was in 4th grade at St. Damian school. With no buses on the streets, his nuns told students to pack not lunches but cars. Mr. Neilly recalls eight kids in one neighbor's small sedan. Ah, the adventures of the young! NNNN |
| 2026-01-26 | 7:00 AM | 0.06 | 2.0 | 0.06 | NA | NA | | 26 Jan: CLR -2.7° REL HMDTY 75% AQ 41 (good) DP -8.7° WND W 6.2 MPH WND CHL -14.6° BRM 30.24 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 7:08 Sunset 5:00. 25 Jan: Hi 16.5° (1330) Lo -2.7° (0640) HDD 55 GUST N 21 MPH (1855) *** If 65 or older and grew up in the Chicago area, you likely remember this day in 1967. That Thursday marked the beginning of northeastern Illinois' great blizzard. Initial flakes of snow were observed at 0502 and in the next 19 hours, 16.4” (1.66 H2O) fell. This 16-year-old lad went to work at 4 p.m. and did not clock out until 10 the next morning with snow still falling. Gross pay for those 18 hours was a whopping $20.70! NNNN |
| 2026-01-25 | 7:00 AM | 0.14 | 2.8 | 0.14 | NA | NA | | 25 Jan: LT SNW 7.0° REL HMDTY 89% AQ 47 (good) DP 4.3° WND N 6.1 MPH WND CHL -3.0° BRM 30.16 FLG VIS 2.5 MI Sunrise 7:09 Sunset 4:58. 24 Jan: Hi 7.0° (0631) Lo -7.2° (0700) HDD 67 GUST N 7 MPH (0735)*** We interrupt weather tales from 1960 through the 1990s with a report of long-ago awful weather OTD in 1897. The second of back-to-back overnight record lows froze people of the pre-central heating and non-insulation era with a reading of-20°. (Psst! The all-time high for this date was set in 1967 when another balmy day with a maximum of 66° caused revision of the Northeastern Illinois annals. 24 hours later, hmm.) NNNN |
| 2026-01-24 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 24 Jan: OVRCST -7.4° REL HMDTY 60% AQ 46 (good) DP -17.7° WND N 7.8 MPH WND CHL -22° BRM 30.68 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 7:10 Sunset 4:57. 23 Jan: Hi -2.4° (1505) Lo -9.0° (0851) HDD 68 GUST N 22 MPH (1235). *** This was the warmest of three record-breaking days in 1967. Noting the 67° afternoon, your future CoCoRaHS reporter’s boss sent him outside to work. Wearing but a tee shirt and shorts, yours truly spent his four-hour shift cleaning windows at Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet. The next day’s high would be 66 (one degree off the all-time mark) but 48 hours later? Aye yai yai. NNNN |
| 2026-01-23 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 23 Jan: CLR -8.1° REL HMDTY 59% AQ 26 (good) DP -17.2° WND NW 17.8 MPH WND CHL -32° BRM 30.52 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 7:11 Sunset 4:56. 22 Jan: Hi 26.4° (1355) Lo -8.1° (0751) HDD 49 GUST W 35 MPH (1635). *** In 1967 the second of three consecutive gorgeous days set records around Joliet with 55-60° highs. This was a Monday and after school your CoCoRaHS history guy shot baskets in the driveway while clad in only jeans and a sweatshirt. 72 hours later? Look out! NNNN |
| 2026-01-22 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 22 Jan: CLR 15.8° REL HMDTY 68% AQ 25 (good) DP 7.2° WND S 13.2 MPH WND CHL 3.0° BRM 30.19 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 7:12 Sunset 4:55. 21 Jan: Hi 32.0° (1155) Lo 15.8° (0555) HDD 39 GUST W 35 MPH (2215). *** A relatively balmy 34° maximum with light southwest zephyrs OTD in 1994 brought an end to severe cold that had stretched for a week. Daily low temperatures had been between -13° & -21°. NNNN |
| 2026-01-21 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 21 Jan: OVRCST 29.5° REL HMDTY 63% AQ 34 (good) DP 18.0° WND S 12.4 MPH WND CHL 18.9° BRM 29.91 FLG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 7:13 Sunset 4:53. 20 Jan: Hi 29.5° (0634) Lo 1.8° (0735) HDD 51 GUST S 20 MPH (0415). *** Nearly one year before Chicagoland’s lowest temperature (1/20/1985), 1984 featured a face-freezing, cartilage-cracking -26°. Unless one wants to do meteorological research in the era of glaciers, that mark was our second-coldest reading. NNNN |
| 2026-01-20 | 7:00 AM | T | T | T | NA | NA | | 20 Jan: CLR 1.8° REL HMDTY 83% AQ 43 (good) DP -2.4° WND SW 6.2 MPH WND CHL -12.8° BRM 30.35 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 7:13 Sunset 4:52. 19 Jan: Hi 8.2° (1535) Lo -0.9° (0815) HDD 56 GUST W 29 MPH (0715). *** As promised yesterday, today’s post informs readers of the lowest temperature EVER recorded in the region. The morning low OTD in 1985 was -27° with a persistent wind chill of -58°. As Ed would've said to Johnny, "How cold was it?" I recall my car door sounding very odd as it clanked into its frame. NNNN |
| 2026-01-19 | 7:00 AM | 0.03 | 1.3 | 0.03 | NA | NA | | 19 Jan: BLWG SN 0.5° REL HMDTY 75% AQ 20 (excellent) DP -4.0° WND W 24.3 MPH WND CHL -21.9° BRM 30.04 RSG VIS 4 MI Sunrise 7:14 Sunset 4:51. 18 Jan: Hi 19.4° (1550) Lo 0.5° (0700) HDD 53 GUST W 28 MPH (0555). *** It was a Saturday in 1985 when the fourth-coldest day occurred in northeastern Illinois. Bad as the -23° temperature was, wait until tomorrow’s post by your CoCoRaHS weather history guy for an even more gruesome tale. NNNN |
| 2026-01-18 | 7:00 AM | 0.01 | 0.1 | 0.01 | NA | NA | | 18 Jan: CLR 7.7° REL HMDTY 79% AQ 20 (excellent) DP 2.7° WND W 7.5 MPH WND CHL -3.1° BRM 30.06 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 7:14 Sunset 4:50. 17 Jan: Hi 17.1° (1515) Lo 7.7° (0624) HDD 47 GUST W 26 MPH (1215). *** New Lenox residents of 1996 must have gloried in the noon temperature of 58°. 88 minutes later, however, the mercury plummeted to 0°, but was back to 54° at 2 p.m. and then dropped to 5° that night. 0.40” rain was also in the mix. The next day saw a high of 9° and a low of 3°. None of this is a typographic error! NNNN |
| 2026-01-17 | 7:00 AM | 0.07 | 1.1 | 0.07 | NA | NA | | 17 Jan: CLR 12.0° REL HMDTY 72% AQ 19 (excellent) DP 4.6° WND W 12.9 MPH WND CHL -2.9° BRM 29.88 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 7:15 Sunset 4:49. 16 Jan: Hi 37.4° (1455) Lo 12.0° (0617) HDD 35 GUST SW 32 MPH (1745). *** Prohibition began OTD in 1920 with a 16° high, 2° low, and 2” snow on the ground in Joliet. Yes, one could say that the Steel City was cold and snowy, but “dry.” NNNN |
| 2026-01-16 | 7:00 AM | 0.02 | 0.6 | 0.02 | NA | NA | | 16 Jan: LT SNW 26.4° REL HMDTY 87% AQ 24 (good) DP 23.0° WND S 14.2 MPH WND CHL 15.4° BRM 29.55 FLG VIS 1.5 MI Sunrise 7:15 Sunset 4:47. 15 Jan: Hi 26.4° (0632) Lo 13.3° (0750) HDD 46 GUST SW 20 MPH (1955). *** On this dastardly day in 1982, -25° on the thermometer made for northeastern Illinois’ third-coldest reading in 1½ centuries of local weather records. NNNN |
| 2026-01-15 | 7:00 AM | 0.12 | 2.0 | 0.12 | NA | NA | | 15 Jan: CLR 14.7° REL HMDTY 71% AQ 20 (excellent) DP 7.0° WND NW 8.5 MPH WND CHL 4.7° BRM 30.01 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 7:16 Sunset 4:46. 14 Jan: Hi 36.9° (0700) Lo 14.7° (0619) HDD 35 GUST N 36 MPH (0835). *** Coldest Martin Luther King day was in 1994 as temperatures reached down to -19°. Caveat? MLK day has only been observed since 1986 when President Reagan’s proclamation took effect. NNNN |
| 2026-01-14 | 7:00 AM | T | T | T | NA | NA | | 14 Jan: LT GRPL 37.6° REL HMDTY 79% AQ 16 (excellent) DP 31.6° WND W 12.2 MPH WND CHL 29.6° BRM 29.61 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 7:16 Sunset 4:45. 13 Jan: Hi 48.9° (1450) Lo 33.8° (0700) HDD 22 GUST W 21 MPH (1555). *** Check back to yesterday’s CoCoRaHS entry from 1979 and you’ll see the preamble to today’s monstrous monograph. OTD -14° of unhappiness followed the previous day’s 1¼ FEET of snow to create a record (which still stands 47 years later) 29” snow on the ground. And you don’t want to know about the drifts! NNNN |
| 2026-01-13 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 13 Jan: CLR 33.6° REL HMDTY 87% AQ 35 (good) DP 30.0° WND S 9.2 MPH WND CHL 27.4° BRM 29.72 FLG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 7:16 Sunset 4:44. 12 Jan: Hi 41.4° (1435) Lo 29.1° (2150) HDD 30 GUST W 20 MPH (1055). *** Another red-letter event occurred OTD in 1979 when 16.5” snow buried the area on a weekend. 60” snow thus far in that wild winter shut down Lincoln-Way Central High School (and this history teacher) until Monday 21 January. NNNN |
| 2026-01-12 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 12 Jan: CLR 27.3° REL HMDTY 80% AQ 32 (good) DP 21.7° WND SW 9.1 MPH WND CHL 18.1° BRM 30.16 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 7:17 Sunset 4:43. 11 Jan: Hi 31.8° (1425) Lo 23.7° (2240) HDD 37 GUST W 28 MPH (0745). *** 1977 continued on its fearsome and frigid way to the record books OTD with a high temperature of 5° and low of -7°. Readings 27° below the norm made this the coldest January ever in our part of the Midwest. Typical weather at that ghastly time featured below-zero days from the 4th through 13th. In the end, the average temperature for those 31 days was 10.1°. NNNN |
| 2026-01-11 | 7:00 AM | 0.18 | 0.1 | T | NA | NA | | 11 Jan: OVRCST 24.6° REL HMDTY 78% AQ 25 (good) DP 19.4° WND NW 15.1 MPH WND CHL 13.4° BRM 30.21 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 7:17 Sunset 4:42. 10 Jan: Hi 37.0° (0745) Lo 21.9° (0410) HDD 33 GUST W 24 MPH (1735). *** More Arctic cold came OTD in 1982 as a -3° low and high of but 7° with west winds 15-20 accompanied a -79° wind chill. On a sunnier note, legendary CBS Chicago weather guy P.J. Hoff was born on 11 January 1896 (died 1981). Remember his ”vice-president in charge of looking out the window?” NNNN |
| 2026-01-10 | 7:00 AM | 0.06 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 10 Jan: LT R 37.2° REL HMDTY 94% AQ 36 (good) DP 35.6° WND SE 5.1 MPH WND CHL 33.4° BRM 29.99 FLG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 7:17 Sunset 4:41. 9 Jan: Hi 47.1° (1025) Lo 37.2° (0624) HDD 15 GUST W 30 MPH 0715). *** The late 1970s/early 1980s continued to set records for bone-chilling cold OTD in 1982 when the morning low dropped to -26?. In over 150 years of Chicago observations, this is the second-coldest mark. Winds that day blasted along at 29 MPH at 5 p.m. to create a horrible wind chill. At -17° very fine – and rare - crystalline snow coated the tundra. NNNN |
| 2026-01-09 | 7:00 AM | 1.61 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 9 Jan: OVRCST 43.3° REL HMDTY 86% AQ 18 (excellent) DP 39.2° WND SW 16.6 MPH WND CHL 36.3° BRM 29.61 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 7:17 Sunset 4:40. 8 Jan: Hi 60.8° (2120) Lo 39.9° (0715) HDD 14 GUST W 38 MPH 0355). *** Many, MANY years ago OTD in 1875 a horrible -20° temperature led northeastern Illinois into its coldest year. Average reading over 52 weeks was but 45.1°. No days were 90° or above and 11 of 12 months were below the norm. The truest indignity from 150+ years ago is that only December saw the mercury above average. NNNN |
| 2026-01-08 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 8 Jan: CLR 39.4° REL HMDTY 88% AQ 51 (mod) DP 35.8° WND S 7.1 MPH WND CHL 34.2° BRM 29.88 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 7:18 Sunset 4:39. 7 Jan: Hi 45.7° (1540) Lo 33.4° (1000) HDD 27 GUST S 7 MPH (1435). *** Snow depth OTD in 1999 was 12” from a 21” storm January 1st to the 3rd. Northwest winds howled at a steady 15-20 MPH and created a wind chill of -5° with 3-4’ drifts. NNNN |
| 2026-01-07 | 7:00 AM | 0.01 | NA | NA | NA | NA | | 7 Jan: FG/MST 34.9° REL HMDTY 99% AQ 42 (good) DP 34.5° WND W 5.2 MPH WND CHL 30.9° BRM 29.87 RSG VIS 1.25 MI Sunrise 7:18 Sunset 4:38. 6 Jan: Hi 46.8° (1250) Lo 34.9° (0624) HDD 25 GUST W 18 MPH (1235). *** OTD in the Janus of 1912 - second-coldest northeastern Illinois month ever – the thermometer at the U.S. Court House (219 S Dearborn Street) in Chicago registered -16°. Average temperature that January was 11.9° and, at one point, 10 consecutive days passed when the mercury did not break above 0°. NNNN |
| 2026-01-06 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 6 Jan: OVRCST 39.6° REL HMDTY 95% AQ 71 (moderate) DP 25.5 38.1° WND SE 1.1 MPH WND CHL 39.6° BRM 29.55 FLG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 7:18 Sunset 4:37. 5 Jan: Hi 46.8° (1415) Lo 28.4° (0750) HDD 26 GUST W 9 MPH (1115). *** -16° reading OTD in 2014 was the coldest day of the third-coldest (average temperature 18.8°) and third-snowiest (67.4”) winter in northeastern Illinois annals. NNNN |
| 2026-01-05 | 6:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 5 Jan: CLR 30.4° REL HMDTY 82% AQ 44 (good) DP 25.5° WND SE 6.2 MPH WND CHL 26.4° BRM 29.81 FLG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 7:18 Sunset 4:36. 4 Jan: Hi 33.3° (2320) Lo 25.3° (0740) HDD 37 GUST SE 6.2 MPH (0557). *** Temperature was -18° OTD in 1884 during the Midwest cold cycle as the six-story Beaurivage apartment building (Michigan Avenue at Van Buren) caught fire in Chicago. The blaze sent hundreds into the bitter weather at 4 a.m. “Women screamed, the children cried, and the men yelled themselves hoarse, almost drowning the crackling of the flames gathering about them" but no one died. NNNN |
| 2026-01-04 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 4 Jan: OVRCST 25.3° REL HMDTY 67% AQ 51 (moderate) DP 15.8° WND NW 2.2 MPH WND CHL 25.3° BRM 30.18 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 7:18 Sunset 4:35. 3 Jan: Hi 28.6° (1345) Lo 21.6° (0710) HDD 42 GUST SW 5.8 MPH (1125). *** January of 1981 was cold. It made the history books, however, as this area’s least snowiest Janus with just 0.01” of white crystals. NNNN |
| 2026-01-03 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 3 Jan: OVRCST 21.6° REL HMDTY 63% AQ 51 (moderate) DP 11.8° WND NW 1.1 MPH WND CHL 21.6° BRM 30.03 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 7:18 Sunset 4:34. 2 Jan: Hi 21.6° (0657) Lo 18.5° (0710) HDD 44 GUST NW 11.4 MPH (1025). *** Northeastern Illinois’ snowiest January registered a fall of 42.5” in 1918. This occurred in the heart of the second outbreak of the Spanish Flu in New Lenox. Some say that the awful weather may have saved local residents from serious or fatal illness as it forced people to stay inside and away from others who might have infected them with the contagion. NNNN |
| 2026-01-02 | 7:00 AM | 0.00 | 0.0 | NA | NA | NA | | 2 Jan: OVRCST 21.6° REL HMDTY 76% AQ 35 (good) DP 15.1° WND NW 6.8 MPH WND CHL 14.4° BRM 29.90 RSG VIS 10 MI Sunrise 7:18 Sunset 4:33. 1 Jan: Hi 22.5° (0520) Lo 11.1° (0700) HDD 49 GUST NW 6.9 MPH (0637). *** Intense cold of January 1977 registered an incredible HDD stat of 68 OTD. It was the beginning of an historic frigid snap that saw 17 days below zero and daily temperatures that averaged but 10.1°. NNNN |
| 2026-01-01 | 6:00 AM | 0.12 | T | T | NA | NA | | 1 Jan 2026: CLR 11.5° REL HMDTY 81% AQ 21 (excellent) DP 6.6° WND NW 6.5 MPH WND CHL 1.3° BRM 30.02 STDY VIS 10 MI Sunrise 7:18 Sunset 4:32. 31 Dec 2025: Hi 35.1° (1435) Lo 11.3° (0547) HDD 39 GUST W 21 MPH (1315). *** Late on this day in 1999 was the beginning of the third-biggest northeastern Illinois snowstorm. Three-day total would weigh in at 21.6”. NNNN |