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

Joliet, Illinois Weather

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

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

Joliet, IL
Saturday, July 4 at 10:08 AM
78
°
Overcast
Feels like
85°
Humidity
82%
Wind
6 mph
Sunrise
12:24 AM
Sunset
3:29 PM
Joliet, IL
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastJoliet, IL: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 66 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit with a 56% chance of precipitation at 5 PM.
L 66°H 82°
Joliet, IL
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 4
    Heavy Showers
    82%
    2.4″
    82°70°
  2. Sunday
    Jul 5
    Overcast
    16%
    79°66°-3°
  3. Monday
    Jul 6
    Overcast
    81°66°+2°
  4. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Overcast
    84°62°+3°
  5. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Overcast
    81°62°-3°
  6. Thursday
    Jul 9
    T-storm w/ Hail
    49%
    0.14″
    79°67°-2°
  7. Friday
    Jul 10
    Overcast
    44%
    82°64°+3°
Joliet, IL
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
SW
231° · veering 18°
Direction
SW
231°
Sustained
6
mph
Gust
11
mph
Peak 24h
17
avg 4
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 4 · pk 17 @ 11:00a
01020MPHB1B2B3B4B5-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 166SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Light breeze veering 18° from the sw.
Joliet, IL
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
993.4
+0.7 mb in 3h · rising · 29.34 inHg
Now
993.4
mb
3h
+0.7
mb
12h
-0.2
mb
24h
-2.8
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 993996
9859909951000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR10201025FAIR|DRY1030-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW996.2992.5993.4
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Deep low — expect rough seas, strong wind, and persistent rain.
Joliet, IL
Air quality
37
AQI
Good
-2 in 6h

AQI 37 (Good), driven by PM2.5. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±3 points). PM2.5 at 8.4 µg/m³, PM10 at 9.0 µg/m³ — typical background levels with no transport signature.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.

PM 2.5DRIVERGood
8.4μg/m³
PM 10Good
9μg/m³
NO₂Good
9μg/m³
OzoneModerate
74μg/m³
UV IndexLow
1.8

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 35. Overcast through the UV peak window (cloud cover ~100%) — afternoon ozone should stay flat.

Present
AQI 35
UV peak
2.5 at 1 PM
Sky at peak
overcast
Projected peak
AQI 6

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 8.4 µg/m³, PM10 at 9.0 µg/m³ — typical background levels with no transport signature.

PM2.5/PM10
0.93
Wind
light
Recent rain
1h in last 6h
Pattern
background
Joliet, IL
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
93%
OVERCAST
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow

Visibility
36.1mi
UNLIMITED
54 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
15:08 UTC · Joliet, 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
15:08 UTC · Joliet, IL · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Joliet, IL
Satellite · infrared · animated
Joliet, IL
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Joliet, IL
Almanac · Saturday, July 4
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
4:51 AM
Sunrise
12:24 AM
Daylight
15h 05m
Sunset
3:29 PM
Civil dusk
9:04 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Joliet, IL
The moon
Waning Gibbous
81% illuminated
Moonrise
10:49 PM
Moonset
9:57 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Joliet, IL
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the afternoon

plant
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Joliet at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 8°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: April 25 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

ZIP codes: 60431, 60432, 60433, 60435, 60436

16-Day Forecast — Joliet

  1. Sat82°70°82%
  2. Sun79°66°16%
  3. Mon81°66°2%
  4. Tue84°62°2%
  5. Wed81°62°8%
  6. Thu79°67°49%
  7. Fri82°64°44%
  8. Sat82°64°15%
  9. Sun69°60°8%
  10. Mon76°56°8%
  11. Tue78°61°7%
  12. Wed81°63°29%
  13. Thu84°66°25%
  14. Fri83°70°19%
  15. Sat87°70°24%
  16. Sun85°71°33%

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

Live wind & temperature near Joliet

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 — Joliet

SPC has placed Joliet in the Marginal Risk category for severe thunderstorms today.

  • TODAYMRGLMarginal Risk
  • TOMORROWTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • DAY 3NONENo severe risk

Isolated severe storms possible. Limited threat for hail or damaging wind.

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: The year turns in silence.January 6–10: Ice thickens on still water.January 11–15: Shortest shadows lengthen.January 16–20: Pheasants begin to call.January 21–25: Springs begin to thaw.January 26–31: Chickadees announce dawn.February 1–5: East wind softens the frost.February 6–10: Sap begins to rise.February 11–15: First snowdrops appear.February 16–20: Red-winged blackbirds return.February 21–25: Rain begins to replace snow.February 26–28: Skunk cabbage pushes through ice.March 1–5: Ice withdraws from the reservoir.March 6–10: Crocuses open to weak sun.March 11–15: Peepers call from the marsh.March 16–20: Woodcocks spiral at dusk.March 21–25: Equinox — light overtakes dark.March 26–31: Forsythia opens along the fences.April 1–5: Cherry blossoms drift like snow.April 6–10: Warblers appear in the understory.April 11–15: Magnolias bloom and fall in a day.April 16–20: Dogwoods float above the forest.April 21–25: Lilacs perfume the evening.April 26–30: Last frost releases the garden.May 1–5: Warblers flood the Ramble.May 6–10: Tulip poplars light their candles.May 11–15: Shad run up the rivers.May 16–20: Roses open along the stoops.May 21–25: Firefly scouts appear at dusk.May 26–31: Strawberries ripen in the sun.June 1–5: Fireflies rise from the lawn.June 6–10: Elderflowers open in hedgerows.June 11–15: Solstice approaches — longest light.June 16–20: Honeysuckle sweetens the night.June 21–25: Solstice — the sun stands still.June 26–30: Lightning bugs drift through oaks.July 1–5: Cicadas claim the afternoon.July 6–10: Queen Anne's lace lines the roads.July 11–15: Thunder builds each afternoon.July 16–20: Corn reaches for the tassels.July 21–25: Dog days settle in the haze.July 26–31: Katydids begin their chorus.August 1–5: Night falls a minute earlier.August 6–10: Sunflowers face the morning.August 11–15: Goldenrod begins to bloom.August 16–20: Crickets pulse through warm nights.August 21–25: First cool morning surprises.August 26–31: Monarchs stage for flight.September 1–5: School buses reappear.September 6–10: Asters purple the roadsides.September 11–15: Hawk migration over the Hudson.September 16–20: Equinox — dark overtakes light.September 21–25: Apples hang heavy on the branch.September 26–30: Geese begin to chevron south.October 1–5: Witch hazel blooms as others fade.October 6–10: Maples begin to blaze.October 11–15: Frost paints the garden black.October 16–20: Oaks turn bronze and russet.October 21–25: Leaves rattle down the gutters.October 26–31: Clocks fall back — dusk at five.November 1–5: Ginkgos drop overnight.November 6–10: Last leaves cling stubbornly.November 11–15: Juncos arrive from the north.November 16–20: Bare branches reveal the sky.November 21–25: First flurries dust the rooftops.November 26–30: Woodsmoke curls through the block.December 1–5: Darkness settles before dinner.December 6–10: Holly and winterberry persist.December 11–15: Shortest day approaches.December 16–20: Ice begins to form at the edges.December 21–25: Solstice — the sun begins 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 coastMay 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 afternoon

Annual cicada buzz begins, peaking in the heat of the day.

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
Augusttomatoes, 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

In Joliet, July runs warmest near 76°F and January coldest around 24°F, while May is the wettest month (4.4 inches) and January the driest (1.8 inches).

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January24°1.814
February27°1.912
March38°3.015
April51°3.717
May60°4.417
June70°4.115
July76°2.915
August76°3.013
September68°3.013
October55°2.912
November40°3.212
December28°2.313

Regional context

By the nearest station's NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals, Joliet sees 24°F Januarys and 76°F Julys, a 53°F range, plus around 36.2 inches of precipitation across 170 days.

Summer convection drives Joliet's precipitation: May logs 4.4 inches on 17.1 rainy days, against January's 1.8 inches on 14.2 — warm-season storms carry Joliet's moisture. That puts Joliet in a summer-convective cohort with places like Rockdale, IL, Shorewood, IL and Crystal Lawns, IL.

The cool-season window in Joliet starts at mid-April, when nights stop freezing — think kale, peas, spinach, and parsnips. Hold Joliet's tender crops — tomatoes, peppers, basil — until 10-14 days past Joliet's last frost. Joliet's window closes around mid-November as overnight lows return below freezing. Within Joliet, cold-air pooling chills low spots by 5-10°F, shifting Joliet's local frost dates.

Similar climates: Rockdale, IL, Shorewood, IL, Crystal Lawns, IL, Sunnyland, IL, Preston Heights, IL.

Naturalist notes

Late April brings the first migrating warblers through Joliet's woodlands as oak trees begin leafing out.

May nights fill with the territorial calls of American toads as lilac bushes reach peak bloom across the city.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Joliet?
In Joliet, expect the last spring frost near mid-April; Joliet's first autumn frost comes around mid-November.
What is the rainy season in Joliet?
Rainfall in Joliet peaks in May near 4.4 inches, out of about 36 inches annually.
What is the warmest month in Joliet?
The warmest stretch in Joliet comes in July, around 76°F on average.
What is the coldest month in Joliet?
On average January is the chilliest month in Joliet, about 24°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Joliet?
Frost-hardy sowings begin at mid-April in Joliet; warm-season starts follow two weeks on.
How many rainy days does Joliet get?
Joliet records around 170 days of measurable precipitation annually.
What hardiness zone is Joliet?
Joliet sits in the USDA zone set by January lows near 24°F; the USDA ZIP tool gives the band.
What is the 10-day forecast for Joliet?
Joliet'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 Joliet?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Joliet in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Joliet?
Current conditions for Joliet and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Joliet forecast updated?
The Joliet forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Joliet?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Joliet 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 Joliet?
The next few days in Joliet's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Joliet, Illinois occupies a warm-summer humid continental zone, with January means near 24°F and July around 76°F — a 52°F swing.

Across the year, Joliet collects about 36 inches of precipitation over roughly 170 days with measurable rain or snow.

Latitude 41.5°N gives Joliet its 52°F swing, and with it the rhythm of Joliet's growing season.

ZIP codes in Joliet

  • 60421
  • 60586
  • 60432
  • 60433
  • 60431
  • 60436
  • 60435
  • 60434

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.