Forecast Details for Chicago, IL

Recent Locations: Chengdu, Dallas, TX Chicago, IL

Current Alerts for Chicago, IL: Special Weather Statement

Tonight: Snow, mainly after 2am. Low around 28. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Total nighttime snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

Friday: Snow likely before 9am, then scattered snow showers after 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 36. Breezy, with a west wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north northwest 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 12. Wind chill values as low as -1. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 23. Wind chill values as low as zero. North northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18. South wind around 5 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.

Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 31.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 21.

Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 38.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 30.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 45.

Tuesday Night: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34.

Wednesday: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 41.

Wednesday Night: A chance of rain. Cloudy, with a low around 29.

Thursday: A chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37.

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Current U.S. National Radar--Current

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National Weather Forecast--Current

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National Weather Forecast for Tomorrow

Tomorrow National Weather Forecast and Tomorrow National Weather Map are show below.

North America Water Vapor (Moisture)

This map shows recent moisture content over North America. Bright and colored areas show high moisture (ie, clouds); brown indicates very little moisture present; black indicates no moisture.

Weather Topic: What are Contrails?

Home - Education - Cloud Types - Contrails

Next Topic: Cumulonimbus Clouds

A contrail is an artificial cloud, created by the passing of an aircraft.

Contrails form because water vapor in the exhaust of aircraft engines is suspended in the air under certain temperatures and humidity conditions. These contrails are called exhaust contrails.

Another type of contrail can form due to a temporary reduction in air pressure moving over the plane's surface, causing condensation. These are called aerodynamic contrails.

When you can see your breath on a cold day, it is also because of condensation. The reason contrails last longer than the condensation from your breath is because the water in contrails freezes into ice particles.

Next Topic: Cumulonimbus Clouds

Weather Topic: What are Cumulus Clouds?

Home - Education - Cloud Types - Cumulus Clouds

Next Topic: Drizzle

Cumulus clouds are fluffy and textured with rounded tops, and may have flat bottoms. The border of a cumulus cloud is clearly defined, and can have the appearance of cotton or cauliflower.

Cumulus clouds form at low altitudes (rarely above 2 km) but can grow very tall, becoming cumulus congestus and possibly the even taller cumulonimbus clouds. When cumulus clouds become taller, they have a greater chance of producing precipitation.

Next Topic: Drizzle