Chicago’s Friday is shaping up to be one of the nicest days of the summer so far — partly sunny skies, a high near 76°F, and dewpoints unusually low for late July, according to the National Weather Service in Romeoville. If you’ve been waiting for a day to get outside without melting, today’s it.
Today’s Setup
The National Weather Service says today continues the “September-like” stretch from earlier this week, just a couple degrees warmer than Thursday. A shortwave trough is bringing extra morning cloud cover, and a band of sprinkles moving in from Iowa could clip areas near and south of the I-80 corridor — don’t be surprised by a passing light shower there before lunch. Skies clear northwest to southeast through the afternoon, though some high-level smoke aloft may hazy up the sunshine slightly. Overnight lows settle near 67°F under mostly clear skies.
Best Window To Be Outside
With rain chances at just 3% today and 0-5% overnight, this afternoon into evening is the pick of the week. Winds stay light out of the south southeast at 0 to 10 mph — calm by Windy City standards. That’s good news for golfers, grillers, and anyone heading to Lake Michigan. It’s also a solid window for lakefront fishing, with light wind and no rain in the way.
Games, Concerts & What To Wear
The Chicago White Sox host the Houston Astros at Rate Field today, July 24, with the series continuing through Sunday — tailgating conditions are ideal, with mild temps, dry skies, and light wind. Grab a Chicago White Sox jersey or Chicago White Sox fitted cap before first pitch, or Find tickets on StubHub. Music fans have options tonight too: Karol G plays Soldier Field and Benson Boone hits Allstate Arena — Get tickets on SeatGeek for either show. Evenings stay comfortable, so shorts and a light layer work fine; anglers and golfers out in the afternoon sun should still pack a UV protection sun hat.
Next Few Days
Saturday climbs to a high near 81°F with mostly sunny skies as another shortwave passes just south of the area, though Chicago should stay dry. The bigger story is Sunday into Monday, when the National Weather Service says heat and humidity return and could require headlines for parts of the area, with a chance of thunderstorms developing late Sunday through Monday night. Timing and coverage confidence is still low this far out, so check back as the weekend nears.
Tonight’s mild, dry weather is tailor-made for the grill — burgers, steaks, or grilled chicken with corn on the cob. An instant-read meat thermometer keeps everything cooked just right, and a grill brush and scraper set makes cleanup painless. Need ingredients? You can order groceries on Amazon and have everything for tonight’s dinner delivered to your door.
Heading out to fish this weekend? A UPF 50+ Sun Hoodie for Just $5 is worth grabbing before Saturday’s stronger sun. Browse more outdoor gear deals for the rest of your weekend plans.
