Weather StoryAlmanac, microseasons, and the day's weather story.

Champaign, Illinois Weather

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon. Day 14 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Champaign weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

Champaign, IL
Saturday, July 4 at 11:14 AM
83
°
Clear
Feels like
91°
Humidity
68%
Wind
7 mph
Sunrise
12:29 AM
Sunset
3:25 PM
Champaign, IL
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastChampaign, IL: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 69 to 91 degrees Fahrenheit with a 42% chance of precipitation at 5 PM.
L 69°H 91°
Champaign, IL
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 4
    Heavy Rain
    56%
    1.2″
    91°70°—
  2. Sunday
    Jul 5
    Overcast
    20%
    —
    84°69°-7°
  3. Monday
    Jul 6
    Partly Cloudy
    15%
    —
    82°66°-2°
  4. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Clear
    —
    —
    80°61°-2°
  5. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Clear
    —
    —
    82°61°+2°
  6. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Thunderstorm
    39%
    0.02″
    83°69°+1°
  7. Friday
    Jul 10
    Light Drizzle
    39%
    —
    77°71°-6°
Champaign, IL
Next 24 hours · Warm now
HOT 90°60°80°100°6a12p6p12anow 83°high 91°low 69°PRECIP %
Champaign, IL
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
SSW
201° · backing 21°
Direction
SSW
201°
Sustained
7
mph
Gust
12
mph
Peak 24h
20
avg 7
Beaufort · 2 · LIGHT BRZ
0
CALM
<1
1
LIGHT AIR
1–3
2
LIGHT BRZ
4–7
3
GENTLE BRZ
8–12
4
MOD BRZ
13–18
5
FRESH BRZ
19–24
6
STRONG BRZ
25–31
7
NEAR GALE
32–38
24h · sust vs gust · mph
avg 7 · pk 20 @ 10:00p
01020MPHB1B2B3B4B5-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 146SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Light breeze backing 21° from the ssw.
Champaign, IL
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
988.0
-0.3 mb in 3h · steady · 29.18 inHg
Now
988.0
mb
3h
-0.3
mb
12h
-0.7
mb
24h
-3.5
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 987–992
9809859909951000STORM|RAIN-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW991.5987.2988.0
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Deep low — expect rough seas, strong wind, and persistent rain.
Champaign, IL
Air quality
31
AQI
Good
→-3 in 6h▲Peak ~44 @ 10 PM

AQI 31 (Good), driven by Ozone. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±3 points). Ozone at AQI 43 now. With UV 6.4 peaking around 1 PM under clear skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 36 around 1 PM.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion during the projected peak around 10 PM.

PM 2.5Good
7.4μg/m³
PM 10Good
8μg/m³
NO₂Good
2μg/m³
OzoneDRIVERModerate
91μg/m³
UV IndexHigh
5.5

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 43 now. With UV 6.4 peaking around 1 PM under clear skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 36 around 1 PM.

Present
AQI 43
UV peak
6.4 at 1 PM
Sky at peak
clear
Projected peak
AQI 36

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 7.4 µg/m³, PM10 at 8.3 µg/m³ — typical background levels with no transport signature.

PM2.5/PM10
0.89
Wind
light
Recent rain
0h in last 6h
Pattern
background

Trends

Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.

Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).

7-DAY AQI TREND50100SATSUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISAT7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³300
Champaign, IL
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
2%
CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
51.8mi
UNLIMITED
79 mi0 mi−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Earth · GOES-19 ABI
Full Disk · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 full disk Visible · GeoColor
True-color daytime, blue/IR sandwich at night
16:14 UTC · Champaign, IL · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · up to 10848 px
Continental US · GOES-19 ABI
CONUS Sector · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 CONUS Visible · GeoColor
Daytime true-color, blue-light/IR sandwich at night
16:14 UTC · Champaign, IL · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Champaign, IL
Satellite · infrared · animated
Champaign, IL
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Champaign, IL
Almanac · Saturday, July 4
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
4:57 AM
Sunrise
12:29 AM
Daylight
14h 56m
Sunset
3:25 PM
Civil dusk
8:59 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Champaign, IL
The moon
Waning Gibbous
80% illuminated
Moonrise
10:48 PM
Moonset
9:59 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Champaign, IL
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon

bird
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Champaign at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 11°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: April 17 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

ZIP codes: 61820, 61821, 61822

16-Day Forecast — Champaign

  1. Sat91°70°56%
  2. Sun84°69°20%
  3. Mon82°66°15%
  4. Tue80°61°4%
  5. Wed82°61°5%
  6. Thu83°69°39%
  7. Fri77°71°39%
  8. Sat82°65°12%
  9. Sun71°57°7%
  10. Mon71°56°6%
  11. Tue77°59°10%
  12. Wed79°63°20%
  13. Thu81°65°26%
  14. Fri80°68°32%
  15. Sat84°71°29%
  16. Sun81°71°32%

Forecast data from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0).

Live wind & temperature near Champaign

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of July 4, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.

SPC Convective Outlook

Storm Prediction Center — Champaign

SPC has placed Champaign in the Slight Risk category for severe thunderstorms today.

  • TODAYSLGTSlight Risk
  • TOMORROWTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms

Scattered severe storms possible. A few tornadoes, hail, and damaging wind gusts possible.

Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.

January 1–5: Frost quiets the live oaks.January 6–10: Still water thickens with ice.January 11–15: Springs begin to move beneath ice.January 16–20: Cardinal dawn calls grow bolder.January 21–25: Late January thaw pulses.January 26–31: Last freeze locks the land.February 1–5: February's lengthening light.February 6–10: Warming winds thaw the margin.February 11–15: Magnolia blooms break the gray.February 16–20: Mockingbirds resume the dawn chorus.February 21–25: Rain replaces the last snow.February 26–28: Mist clings to greening valleys.March 1–5: The green pulse awakens.March 6–10: Hibernators emerge to call.March 11–15: Dogwood and redbud ignite.March 16–20: Swallowtails emerge from winter silk.March 21–25: Light crowns the dogwood canopy.March 26–31: Redbud cascades over the thaw.April 1–5: Thunder announces the wet season.April 6–10: Barn swallows carve the warming sky.April 11–15: Magnolia blooms and falls in a breath.April 16–20: First rainbows arch over thunderheads.April 21–25: Reeds push through marsh water.April 26–30: Frost retreats; seedlings rise free.May 1–5: Warblers flood the canopy in waves.May 6–10: Tulip poplar lights the forest crown.May 11–15: Shad pulse upstream through rapids.May 16–20: Roses open on the Piedmont edge.May 21–25: Fireflies scout the humid dusk.May 26–31: Frog choruses rise from every wetland.June 1–5: Fireflies pulse through the magnolias.June 6–10: Kudzu climbs deeper into green.June 11–15: Sun climbs to its northern throne.June 16–20: Heat settles and the rain begins.June 21–25: The longest day turns toward shadow.June 26–30: Fireflies drift through Spanish moss.July 1–5: Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon.July 6–10: Thunderheads boil and break at dusk.July 11–15: Thunder builds each drowsy afternoon.July 16–20: Cicadas claim the long noon.July 21–25: Dog days drape the earth in haze.July 26–31: Katydids begin their rasping chorus.August 1–5: Dusk arrives one minute earlier each night.August 6–10: Meteorological summer's turning page.August 11–15: Cool winds gather at the margins.August 16–20: Dog-day cicadas rise.August 21–25: Heat breaks in creek beds.August 26–31: Monarchs gather strength.September 1–5: Harvests begin in earnest.September 6–10: Dew beads on resurrection fern.September 11–15: Raptors trail the thermals.September 16–20: Day and dark find balance.September 21–25: Thunder quiets the land.September 26–30: Insects retreat below.October 1–5: Swamp waters recede.October 6–10: Maples ignite the ridge.October 11–15: Asters crown the meadows.October 16–20: Crickets sing at dusk.October 21–25: Frost paints the garden.October 26–31: Light rains whisper down.November 1–5: Sweetgum Turns Crimson.November 6–10: Camellia Blooms Break Through.November 11–15: Earth Stiffens Underfoot.November 16–20: Bare Limbs Hold the Light.November 21–25: First Frost Grips the High Ground.November 26–30: North Wind Strips the Last Leaves.December 1–5: Darkness Falls Before Dinner.December 6–10: Winter Locks the Land.December 11–15: Wildlife Retreats to Shelter.December 16–20: Ice Edges Deepen Inward.December 21–25: The Sun Begins its Return.December 26–31: The Year Turns in Silence.🌱February 14 — First skunk-cabbage spathes thaw their way up☀️March 20 — Spring equinox — day and night balance🌸April 5 — Cherry blossoms peak in the parks🐦May 10 — Warbler migration peaks along the coast✨May 25 — First fireflies scout the meadows at dusk🌞June 21 — Summer solstice — longest day🦗July 25 — Peak cicada chorus in the afternoons🌊August 18 — Warmest sea-surface temperatures of the year🍂September 22 — Autumn equinox — the slow turn❄️October 25 — First widespread frost in the suburbs🍁November 10 — Peak leaf color across the Hudson Valley🌙December 21 — Winter solstice — longest night

Microseason · July 1–5

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon

Dog-day cicadas emerge in waves, their rasp dominating every sunny hour; heat peaks above 90 degrees daily.

Day 185 of 365 · Wedge 37 of 72

The solar year drawn as a wheel of 72 five-day windows. Each wedge is one microseason; the four colored arcs mark winter, spring, summer, and autumn; the small icons sit at notable phenological events. The crimson pointer creeps clockwise as the year turns.

Planting calendar

MonthPlantHarvest
January——
February——
March——
Aprillettuce, peas, spinach, radishes—
Maylettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Junetomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Julytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashtomatoes, beans, summer squash
August—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
Septemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotstomatoes, beans, summer squash
Octoberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotswinter squash, tomatoes (last)
November——
December——

A year in weather

Champaign's warmest month is July (~75°F mean) and its coldest is January (~26°F). Rainfall peaks in May (4.8 inches) and bottoms out in February (2.2 inches).

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January26°2.3″5
February30°2.2″5
March41°2.8″6
April52°3.9″8
May63°4.8″9
June72°4.6″7
July75°4.5″7
August74°3.5″6
September67°3.4″5
October55°3.4″6
November41°3.2″6
December31°2.4″5

Regional context

Champaign swings from 26°F in January to 75°F in July (50°F) per NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals; precipitation in Champaign runs about 40.9 inches on roughly 74 measurable days.

Summer convection drives Champaign's precipitation: May logs 4.8 inches on 8.6 rainy days, against February's 2.2 inches on 4.6 — warm-season storms carry Champaign's moisture. That summer-storm rhythm groups Champaign with places like Savoy, IL, Urbana, IL and Bondville, IL.

Around mid-April, Champaign sheds its freezing nights — kale, peas, spinach, and parsnips go into Champaign's beds. Heat-demanding starts go out a fortnight on in Champaign, after the soil warms and cold snaps clear. Frost returns to Champaign near mid-November, ending the tender-crop season. Champaign's low ground holds frost later into spring than Champaign's benches, which run 3-5 days ahead.

Similar climates: Savoy, IL, Urbana, IL, Bondville, IL, Mahomet, IL, Seymour, IL.

Naturalist notes

Red-winged blackbirds return to cattail marshes around Champaign in mid-March, their territorial calls marking spring's arrival.

Wild bergamot begins blooming in late May, attracting native bees to prairie remnants throughout the area.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Champaign?
Champaign's last spring frost lands near mid-April, and in Champaign the first fall frost follows around mid-November.
What is the rainy season in Champaign?
May is the wettest month in Champaign, about 4.8 inches on average; the year totals roughly 41 inches.
What is the warmest month in Champaign?
On average July tops the year in Champaign at about 75°F.
What is the coldest month in Champaign?
The coldest stretch in Champaign falls in January, around 26°F on average.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Champaign?
In Champaign, sow peas and hardy greens around mid-April; Champaign's tomatoes and peppers wait two weeks more.
How many rainy days does Champaign get?
Expect roughly 74 wet days a year in Champaign.
What hardiness zone is Champaign?
Because Champaign bottoms near 26°F in January, that winter low sets Champaign's USDA zone — verify by ZIP.
What is the 10-day forecast for Champaign?
Champaign's extended outlook — daily high and low temperatures and precipitation chances for each upcoming day — is in the daily forecast above.
Will it rain this week in Champaign?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Champaign in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Champaign?
Current conditions for Champaign and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Champaign forecast updated?
The Champaign forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Champaign?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Champaign are in the Almanac section above, along with civil dawn, civil dusk, and day length. Day length is longest near the summer solstice and shortest near the winter solstice.
How accurate is the weather forecast for Champaign?
The next few days in Champaign's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

The humid subtropical climate of Champaign, Illinois carries typical Januarys near 26°F and Julys around 75°F — 49°F of seasonal travel.

Yearly precipitation in Champaign totals around 41 inches, spread over about 74 days of rain or snow.

From 40.1°N, Champaign sees a 49°F seasonal swing that governs Champaign's planting and frost windows.

All cities in Illinois →

Indianapolis, IN weather →

ZIP codes in Champaign

  • 61822
  • 61820
  • 61821
  • 61824
  • 61825
  • 61826

Climate normals from the Open-Meteo Climate API. Köppen approximation from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Regions. See methodology for data sources, editorial rules, and corrections. Maintainer: Brian Tighe.