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

West Chicago, Illinois Weather

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

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

West Chicago, IL
Saturday, July 4 at 9:53 AM
76
°
Overcast
Feels like
81°
Humidity
86%
Wind
10 mph
Sunrise
12:23 AM
Sunset
3:31 PM
West Chicago, IL
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastWest Chicago, IL: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 64 to 81 degrees Fahrenheit with a 51% chance of precipitation at 6 PM.
L 64°H 81°
West Chicago, IL
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 4
    Heavy Rain
    83%
    0.41″
    81°69°—
  2. Sunday
    Jul 5
    Overcast
    14%
    —
    78°64°-3°
  3. Monday
    Jul 6
    Overcast
    —
    —
    80°63°+2°
  4. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Overcast
    —
    —
    83°59°+3°
  5. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Overcast
    26%
    —
    81°61°-2°
  6. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Light Showers
    38%
    0.20″
    77°65°-4°
  7. Friday
    Jul 10
    Overcast
    38%
    —
    82°62°+5°
West Chicago, IL
Next 24 hours · Mild now
60°73°86°6a12p6p12anow 76°high 81°low 64°PRECIP %
West Chicago, IL
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
W
260° · veering 36°
Direction
W
260°
Sustained
10
mph
Gust
15
mph
Peak 24h
17
avg 4
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 4 · pk 17 @ 8:00a
01020MPHB1B2B3B4B5-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 185SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Light breeze veering 36° from the w.
West Chicago, IL
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
987.8
-0.6 mb in 3h · falling · 29.17 inHg
Now
987.8
mb
3h
-0.6
mb
12h
-0.2
mb
24h
-3.7
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-24hNOW990.8987.0987.0
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Deep low — expect rough seas, strong wind, and persistent rain.
West Chicago, IL
Air quality
32
AQI
Good
→0 in 6h

AQI 32 (Good), driven by Ozone. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±3 points).

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

PM 2.5Good
4.9μg/m³
PM 10Good
5μg/m³
NO₂Good
8μg/m³
OzoneDRIVERModerate
62μg/m³
UV IndexLow
0.8

What's driving it

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 4.9 µg/m³, PM10 at 5.4 µg/m³ — typical background levels with no transport signature.

PM2.5/PM10
0.91
Wind
breezy
Recent rain
1h 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
West Chicago, IL
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
100%
OVERCAST
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
31.4mi
UNLIMITED
42 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
14:53 UTC · West Chicago, 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
14:53 UTC · West Chicago, IL · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
West Chicago, IL
Satellite · infrared · animated
West Chicago, IL
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
West Chicago, IL
Almanac · Saturday, July 4
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
4:50 AM
Sunrise
12:23 AM
Daylight
15h 08m
Sunset
3:31 PM
Civil dusk
9:06 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
West Chicago, IL
The moon
Waning Gibbous
81% illuminated
Moonrise
10:50 PM
Moonset
9:57 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
West Chicago, IL
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the afternoon

plant
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

West Chicago at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 6°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: April 27 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

ZIP code: 60185

16-Day Forecast — West Chicago

  1. Sat81°69°83%
  2. Sun78°64°14%
  3. Mon80°63°4%
  4. Tue83°59°3%
  5. Wed81°61°26%
  6. Thu77°65°38%
  7. Fri82°62°38%
  8. Sat81°62°15%
  9. Sun68°59°8%
  10. Mon74°55°8%
  11. Tue80°60°7%
  12. Wed79°62°23%
  13. Thu83°65°16%
  14. Fri81°69°19%
  15. Sat87°69°19%
  16. Sun84°70°28%

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 — West Chicago

SPC has placed West Chicago 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 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 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
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

West Chicago peaks at about 74°F in July and bottoms near 23°F in January; May brings the heaviest rain (4.3 inches) and February the least (1.2 inches).

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January23°1.3″3
February27°1.2″3
March38°2.0″5
April49°3.4″7
May60°4.3″9
June70°3.6″7
July74°3.6″6
August72°3.8″6
September65°3.0″5
October52°3.0″6
November39°2.2″4
December28°1.7″4

Regional context

Drawing on NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals, West Chicago's January averages 23°F and July 74°F — 50°F apart — while precipitation totals roughly 33.2 inches over some 66 days.

Precipitation in West Chicago runs summer-dominant: May averages 4.3 inches across 8.6 days of warm-season storms, while February drops to 1.2 inches over 3.1 rainy days of drier cool air. It is a warm-season-wet pattern West Chicago shares with places like Winfield, IL, Wayne, IL and St. Charles, IL.

The cool-season window in West Chicago starts at mid-April, when nights stop freezing — think kale, peas, spinach, and parsnips. Hold West Chicago's tender crops — tomatoes, peppers, basil — until 10-14 days past West Chicago's last frost. Around mid-November, freezing nights resume in West Chicago and tender crops must come in. In West Chicago, low spots run 4-7°F colder than nearby slopes, nudging West Chicago's frost dates a week.

Similar climates: Winfield, IL, Wayne, IL, St. Charles, IL, Carol Stream, IL, Geneva, IL.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in West Chicago?
West Chicago's last spring frost lands near mid-April, and in West Chicago the first fall frost follows around mid-November.
What is the rainy season in West Chicago?
May is the wettest month in West Chicago, about 4.3 inches on average; the year totals roughly 33 inches.
What is the warmest month in West Chicago?
July is West Chicago's warmest month, averaging about 74°F.
What is the coldest month in West Chicago?
West Chicago bottoms out in January, with a mean near 23°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in West Chicago?
Time tomatoes in West Chicago for two weeks after mid-April; peas and greens start at West Chicago's frost line.
How many rainy days does West Chicago get?
West Chicago averages about 66 days with measurable rain or snow each year.
What hardiness zone is West Chicago?
West Chicago sits in the USDA zone set by January lows near 23°F; the USDA ZIP tool gives the band.
What is the 10-day forecast for West Chicago?
West Chicago'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 West Chicago?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for West Chicago in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in West Chicago?
Current conditions for West Chicago and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the West Chicago forecast updated?
The West Chicago forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in West Chicago?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for West Chicago 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 West Chicago?
The next few days in West Chicago's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

West Chicago's warm-summer humid continental climate in Illinois pairs 23°F Januarys with 74°F Julys, 51°F apart across the seasons.

In a typical year West Chicago records about 33 inches of precipitation on around 66 days.

At 41.9°N, West Chicago's 51°F summer-to-winter swing sets when West Chicago's gardens wake and when frost returns.

All cities in Illinois →

Aurora, IL weather →

ZIP codes in West Chicago

  • 60185
  • 60186

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.