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

Rochelle, Illinois Weather

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

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

Rochelle, IL
Saturday, July 4 at 10:06 AM
74
°
Overcast
Feels like
80°
Humidity
88%
Wind
5 mph
Sunrise
12:26 AM
Sunset
3:34 PM
Rochelle, IL
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastRochelle, IL: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 64 to 83 degrees Fahrenheit with a 31% chance of precipitation at 10 AM.
L 64°H 83°
Rochelle, IL
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 4
    Light Rain
    67%
    0.07″
    83°67°
  2. Sunday
    Jul 5
    Overcast
    21%
    82°64°-1°
  3. Monday
    Jul 6
    Overcast
    11%
    80°63°-2°
  4. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Overcast
    80°57°
  5. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Overcast
    11%
    81°63°+1°
  6. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Heavy Drizzle
    52%
    0.07″
    76°65°-5°
  7. Friday
    Jul 10
    Overcast
    36%
    79°62°+3°
Rochelle, IL
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
ESE
110° · backing 109°
Direction
ESE
110°
Sustained
5
mph
Gust
7
mph
Peak 24h
18
avg 5
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 5 · pk 18 @ 9:00p
01020MPHB1B2B3B4B5-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 178SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
A whisper of wind — leaves barely shift on the trees.
Rochelle, IL
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
986.4
-0.7 mb in 3h · falling · 29.13 inHg
Now
986.4
mb
3h
-0.7
mb
12h
-0.8
mb
24h
-3.5
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 986990
9809859909951000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR10201025FAIR|DRY1030-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW989.9986.2986.4
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Deep low — expect rough seas, strong wind, and persistent rain.
Rochelle, IL
Air quality
24
AQI
Good
+1 in 6hPeak ~36 @ 9 PM

AQI 24 (Good), driven by Ozone. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±3 points). Ozone at AQI 33 now. With UV 2.5 peaking around 1 PM under partly cloudy skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 8 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 9 PM.

PM 2.5Good
4.6μg/m³
PM 10Good
6μg/m³
NO₂Good
4μg/m³
OzoneDRIVERModerate
70μg/m³
UV IndexLow
1.8

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 33 now. With UV 2.5 peaking around 1 PM under partly cloudy skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 8 around 1 PM.

Present
AQI 33
UV peak
2.5 at 1 PM
Sky at peak
partly cloudy
Projected peak
AQI 8

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 4.6 µg/m³, PM10 at 6.0 µg/m³ — typical background levels with no transport signature.

PM2.5/PM10
0.77
Wind
light
Recent rain
1h in last 6h
Pattern
background
Rochelle, IL
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
100%
OVERCAST
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow

Visibility
31.0mi
UNLIMITED
47 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
15:06 UTC · Rochelle, 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
15:06 UTC · Rochelle, IL · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Rochelle, IL
Satellite · infrared · animated
Rochelle, IL
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Rochelle, IL
Almanac · Saturday, July 4
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
4:53 AM
Sunrise
12:26 AM
Daylight
15h 08m
Sunset
3:34 PM
Civil dusk
9:10 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Rochelle, IL
The moon
Waning Gibbous
81% illuminated
Moonrise
10:54 PM
Moonset
10:00 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Rochelle, IL
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the afternoon

plant
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Rochelle at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 4°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: April 28 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

ZIP code: 61068

16-Day Forecast — Rochelle

  1. Sat83°67°67%
  2. Sun82°64°21%
  3. Mon80°63°11%
  4. Tue80°57°1%
  5. Wed81°63°11%
  6. Thu76°65°52%
  7. Fri79°62°36%
  8. Sat81°62°12%
  9. Sun67°57°7%
  10. Mon74°55°10%
  11. Tue76°59°10%
  12. Wed78°62°26%
  13. Thu81°66°13%
  14. Fri81°68°26%
  15. Sat84°69°26%
  16. Sun82°71°32%

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

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 — Rochelle

SPC has placed Rochelle 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

The year in Rochelle tops out in July (~72°F) and dips lowest in January (~20°F), with June wettest at 4.9 inches and February driest at 1.7 inches.

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January20°1.84
February24°1.75
March36°2.35
April48°3.47
May59°4.79
June69°4.98
July72°3.56
August70°3.96
September63°3.36
October51°2.86
November38°2.35
December26°1.95

Regional context

In Rochelle, NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals put January near 20°F and July near 72°F — a 52°F seasonal arc — with about 36.6 inches of precipitation over 71 rainy or snowy days.

Rochelle's rain peaks in summer: June brings 4.9 inches over 7.7 thunderstorm-fed days, while February sees just 1.7 inches across 4.5 days under cooler, drier air. That summer-storm rhythm groups Rochelle with places like Hillcrest, IL, Creston, IL and Steward, IL.

Rochelle reaches its last hard frost near mid-April; that is the cue for kale, peas, spinach, and parsnips. Rochelle's heat-lovers — tomatoes, peppers, squash — hold off until Rochelle's frost risk clears, 10-14 days on. Frost returns to Rochelle near mid-November, ending the tender-crop season. Rochelle's low ground holds frost later into spring than Rochelle's benches, which run 3-5 days ahead.

Similar climates: Hillcrest, IL, Creston, IL, Steward, IL, Kings, IL, Ashton, IL.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Rochelle?
Frost typically leaves Rochelle by mid-April and returns to Rochelle near mid-November.
What is the rainy season in Rochelle?
June is the wettest month in Rochelle, about 4.9 inches on average; the year totals roughly 37 inches.
What is the warmest month in Rochelle?
On average July tops the year in Rochelle at about 72°F.
What is the coldest month in Rochelle?
The coldest stretch in Rochelle falls in January, around 20°F on average.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Rochelle?
In Rochelle, sow peas and hardy greens around mid-April; Rochelle's tomatoes and peppers wait two weeks more.
How many rainy days does Rochelle get?
Rochelle averages about 71 days with measurable rain or snow each year.
What hardiness zone is Rochelle?
Since January in Rochelle averages 20°F, Rochelle's USDA zone follows that floor — confirm it by ZIP.
What is the 10-day forecast for Rochelle?
Rochelle'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 Rochelle?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Rochelle in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Rochelle?
Current conditions for Rochelle and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Rochelle forecast updated?
The Rochelle forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Rochelle?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Rochelle 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 Rochelle?
The next few days in Rochelle's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Set in a warm-summer humid continental zone, Rochelle, Illinois swings from 20°F in the heart of winter to 72°F at midsummer — a 52°F arc.

Yearly precipitation in Rochelle totals around 37 inches, spread over about 71 days of rain or snow.

Rochelle sits at 41.9°N; that 52°F seasonal swing frames planting windows and frost dates across Rochelle.

ZIP codes in Rochelle

  • 61068

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.