Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Highest listed rain chance in the game window is 34%.
Bring a rain layer and check delay updates before leaving.
Tickets, team gear, and weather gear should support the forecast, not distract from it.
Wrigley Field hosts a Friday matinee for the ages on July 31, as the Chicago Cubs welcome the New York Yankees for a 1:20 PM CDT first pitch. The National Weather Service’s outlook for the Wrigleyville area is trending mild and drying out through midweek, so pack for a warm, occasionally breezy summer afternoon and check back as the forecast window updates closer to gameday.
Game Weather Bottom Line
The most recent NWS update covers through Wednesday night, and the trend line is a good sign for Friday. Tuesday brought patchy drizzle clearing to partly sunny, with a high near 73°F sliding back to around 71°F by afternoon. Wednesday flipped to sunny with a high near 78°F. That’s the pattern heading into the weekend: drizzle fading, sun returning, temperatures settling into the mid-to-upper 70s.
The exact numbers for July 31 weren’t locked in the forecast window at publish time — this is a preliminary read, not a locked forecast. Check back as the date gets closer for the confirmed game-hour details.
Rain Delay And Wind Risk
Today’s patchy drizzle is the reason rain is on the radar for this stretch, but it cleared out fast — by Wednesday, precipitation chances were essentially zero. Wind is the bigger Wrigley story. North winds hit 15 to 20 mph today with gusts as high as 35 mph, before easing to a calmer 10 mph out of the north-northeast by Wednesday.
That’s classic Wrigley: wind off Lake Michigan can turn a routine fly ball into an adventure, or knock down a would-be homer, depending on which way it’s blowing. If any of that breeze carries into Friday, expect it to affect ball flight more than the start time itself.
What To Wear And Bring
Dress for a warm, sunny day game with a breeze in play. Light layers work best — shorts and a tee for the sun, with something to throw on if wind picks up off the lake. A 1:20 PM start means real sun exposure for a few hours, so a sunscreen stick SPF 50 belongs in your bag alongside sunglasses.
If the early-week drizzle pattern lingers into the weekend, a stadium rain poncho is cheap insurance that won’t take up bag space. Bringing the family? A stadium blanket helps if the wind makes the seats feel cooler than the temperature suggests, and don’t forget a baseball glove if you’re hoping to snag a souvenir down the line.
Tailgating And Arrival Window
Cubs-Yankees at Wrigley draws a crowd on a good day, and with both clubs fighting for playoff positioning, expect Wrigleyville to be packed well before first pitch. Get to the neighborhood early — the bars and rooftops around Clark and Addison fill up fast for a marquee interleague matchup like this one.
If skies look unsettled when you head out, a waterproof stadium bag keeps your phone, tickets, and gear dry without slowing you down at the gate.
Tickets, Team Gear, And Useful Links
Both teams sit at 60-46, each riding a one-game winning streak, with playoff positioning squarely on the line — this is not a game to sleep on. If you’re still hunting for seats, check Get tickets on SeatGeek or Find tickets on StubHub before Friday, because a playoff-race rivalry game like this tends to move.
Gearing up for the day game? A Chicago Cubs jersey, Chicago Cubs fitted cap, or Chicago Cubs t-shirt covers you for sun and photos alike. Whatever the wind does at the corner of Clark and Addison, come ready — this one has stakes.