Forecast Details for Chicago, IL

Recent Locations: Santa Ana, CA Long Beach, CA Chicago, IL

Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm, then a slight chance of showers after 5am. Cloudy, with a low around 37. North northeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 46. North northeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 7pm. Temperature falling to near 43 by midnight, then rising to around 47 during the remainder of the night. East wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 74. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Thursday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. Breezy, with a south southwest wind 20 to 25 mph decreasing to 10 to 15 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 61.

Friday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 49. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Saturday: Showers likely, mainly before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 61.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 47.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 54.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40.

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 53.

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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

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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 is Sleet?

Home - Education - Precipitation - Sleet

Sleet Next Topic: Snow

Sleet is a form of precipitation in which small ice pellets are the primary components. These ice pellets are smaller and more translucent than hailstones, and harder than graupel. Sleet is caused by specific atmospheric conditions and therefore typically doesn't last for extended periods of time.

The condition which leads to sleet formation requires a warmer body of air to be wedged in between two sub-freezing bodies of air. When snow falls through a warmer layer of air it melts, and as it falls through the next sub-freezing body of air it freezes again, forming ice pellets known as sleet. In some cases, water droplets don't have time to freeze before reaching the surface and the result is freezing rain.

Next Topic: Snow

Weather Topic: What are Stratocumulus Clouds?

Home - Education - Cloud Types - Stratocumulus Clouds

Next Topic: Stratus Clouds

Stratocumulus clouds are similar to altocumulus clouds in their fluffy appearance, but have a slightly darker shade due to their additional mass.

A good way to distinguish the two cloud types is to hold your hand out and measure the size of an individual cloud; if it is the size of your thumb it is generally an altocumulus cloud, if it is the size of your hand it is generally a stratocumulus cloud.

It is uncommon for stratocumulus clouds to produce precipitation, but if they do it is usually a light rain or snow.

Next Topic: Stratus Clouds