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

Washington, Illinois Weather

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

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

Washington, IL
Saturday, July 4 at 11:59 AM
81
°
Clear
Feels like
90°
Humidity
78%
Wind
9 mph
Sunrise
12:32 AM
Sunset
3:32 PM
Washington, IL
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastWashington, IL: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 68 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit with a 48% chance of precipitation at 3 PM.
L 68°H 84°
Washington, IL
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 4
    Heavy Rain
    66%
    0.80″
    84°68°—
  2. Sunday
    Jul 5
    Overcast
    15%
    —
    82°68°-2°
  3. Monday
    Jul 6
    Mostly Clear
    —
    —
    81°64°-1°
  4. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Overcast
    —
    —
    79°60°-2°
  5. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Light Drizzle
    —
    —
    83°63°+4°
  6. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Thunderstorm
    48%
    0.05″
    82°69°-1°
  7. Friday
    Jul 10
    Overcast
    48%
    —
    77°64°-5°
Washington, IL
Next 24 hours · Mild now
64°76°88°6a12p6p12anow 80°high 84°low 68°PRECIP %
Washington, IL
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
SSW
202° · backing 22°
Direction
SSW
202°
Sustained
9
mph
Gust
15
mph
Peak 24h
21
avg 8
Beaufort · 3 · GENTLE 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 8 · pk 21 @ 8:00p
01020MPHB1B2B3B4B5-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 227SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Light breeze backing 22° from the ssw.
Washington, IL
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
988.2
0.0 mb in 3h · steady · 29.18 inHg
Now
988.2
mb
3h
0.0
mb
12h
-2.2
mb
24h
-2.9
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 987–991
9809859909951000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR10201025FAIR|DRY1030-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW990.8987.0987.9
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Deep low — expect rough seas, strong wind, and persistent rain.
Washington, IL
Air quality
27
AQI
Good
→-3 in 6h▲Peak ~45 @ 11 PM

AQI 27 (Good), driven by PM2.5. AQI projected to climb to 45 over the next 6 hours. PM scrubbed by 3 hours of recent rain — PM2.5 down to 10.6 µg/m³, PM10 to 12.0 µg/m³.

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

PM 2.5DRIVERGood
10.6μg/m³
PM 10Good
12μg/m³
NO₂Good
2μg/m³
OzoneModerate
81μg/m³
UV IndexModerate
3.8

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 38. Overcast through the UV peak window (cloud cover ~69%) — afternoon ozone should stay flat.

Present
AQI 38
UV peak
4.4 at 1 PM
Sky at peak
overcast
Projected peak
AQI 11

PM × Wind × Precip

PM scrubbed by 3 hours of recent rain — PM2.5 down to 10.6 µg/m³, PM10 to 12.0 µg/m³.

PM2.5/PM10
0.88
Wind
light
Recent rain
3h in last 6h
Pattern
washed out

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
Washington, IL
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
9%
CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
39.8mi
UNLIMITED
70 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
16:59 UTC · Washington, 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
16:59 UTC · Washington, IL · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Washington, IL
Satellite · infrared · animated
Washington, IL
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Washington, IL
Almanac · Saturday, July 4
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
4:59 AM
Sunrise
12:32 AM
Daylight
15h 00m
Sunset
3:32 PM
Civil dusk
9:06 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Washington, IL
The moon
Waning Gibbous
80% illuminated
Moonrise
10:53 PM
Moonset
10:03 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Washington, IL
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon

bird
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Washington at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 10°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: April 20 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

ZIP code: 61571

16-Day Forecast — Washington

  1. Sat84°68°66%
  2. Sun82°68°15%
  3. Mon81°64°7%
  4. Tue79°60°3%
  5. Wed83°63°6%
  6. Thu82°69°48%
  7. Fri77°64°48%
  8. Sat82°65°14%
  9. Sun70°59°6%
  10. Mon73°56°10%
  11. Tue75°60°10%
  12. Wed78°62°16%
  13. Thu82°64°20%
  14. Fri82°69°29%
  15. Sat85°69°32%
  16. Sun84°72°35%

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 — Washington

SPC has placed Washington 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

July is Washington's warmest stretch (~76°F) and January its coldest (~26°F); precipitation crests in May at 4.7 inches and ebbs in February to 2.0 inches.

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January26°2.1″5
February30°2.0″5
March41°2.7″6
April53°4.0″8
May64°4.7″8
June73°3.7″7
July76°3.5″5
August75°3.3″6
September67°3.5″5
October55°3.2″6
November42°2.7″6
December31°2.2″5

Regional context

Washington swings from 26°F in January to 76°F in July (51°F) per NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals; precipitation in Washington runs about 37.6 inches on roughly 71 measurable days.

Washington's rain peaks in summer: May brings 4.7 inches over 8.4 thunderstorm-fed days, while February sees just 2.0 inches across 4.6 days under cooler, drier air. It is a warm-season-wet pattern Washington shares with places like Germantown Hills, IL, East Peoria, IL and Morton, IL.

Washington reaches its last hard frost near mid-April; that is the cue for kale, peas, spinach, and parsnips. Washington's heat-lovers — tomatoes, peppers, squash — hold off until Washington's frost risk clears, 10-14 days on. By mid-November, frost is back in Washington — protect or harvest anything tender. Washington's low ground holds frost later into spring than Washington's benches, which run 3-5 days ahead.

Similar climates: Germantown Hills, IL, East Peoria, IL, Morton, IL, Metamora, IL, Deer Creek, IL.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Washington?
In Washington, expect the last spring frost near mid-April; Washington's first autumn frost comes around mid-November.
What is the rainy season in Washington?
May is the wettest month in Washington, about 4.7 inches on average; the year totals roughly 38 inches.
What is the warmest month in Washington?
On average July tops the year in Washington at about 76°F.
What is the coldest month in Washington?
The coldest stretch in Washington falls in January, around 26°F on average.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Washington?
In Washington, sow peas and hardy greens around mid-April; Washington's tomatoes and peppers wait two weeks more.
How many rainy days does Washington get?
Washington averages about 71 days with measurable rain or snow each year.
What hardiness zone is Washington?
Because Washington bottoms near 26°F in January, that winter low sets Washington's USDA zone — verify by ZIP.
What is the 10-day forecast for Washington?
Washington'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 Washington?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Washington in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Washington?
Current conditions for Washington and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Washington forecast updated?
The Washington forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Washington?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Washington 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 Washington?
The next few days in Washington's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

In Washington, Illinois, the humid subtropical climate runs from about 26°F in January to 76°F in July, a 50°F seasonal range.

Rain and snow bring Washington roughly 38 inches a year across approximately 71 measurable-precipitation days.

Washington's 50°F range, set by its 40.7°N position, drives frost timing and what thrives in Washington.

All cities in Illinois →

Peoria, IL weather →

ZIP codes in Washington

  • 61571

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.