textproduct: Chicago

KEY MESSAGES

- Generally warm and dry weather is expected through early next week.

- Daily lake breezes will keep temperatures cooler near the lake with backdoor fronts leading to cooler conditions farther inland today and again Saturday.

- Dangerous swimming conditions are expected to develop at area beaches this morning and continue into this evening.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 310 AM CDT Thu May 28 2026

A backdoor front diving down southern Lake Michigan early this morning will lead to quickly building waves and the development of dangerous currents at area beaches this morning. A Beach Hazards Statement remains in effect through this evening to account for this. Onshore winds will keep temperatures cooler across the Chicago metro today (60s along the lakeshore and 70s inland), with 80s possible mainly west of I-39 and south of the Kankakee River.

Meanwhile, a mid-upper level Omega Blocking pattern is taking shape across the CONUS this morning, with high amplitude ridging across the central CONUS and Canada centered between a broad closed low over California and another over southeastern Canada. This will lead to continued warm (highs in the 80s) and dry conditions for the majority of the area for the next several days as an expansive surface high also takes hold across the region. Given the light surface flow, daily lake breezes and onshore winds will keep temperatures cooler (60s to around 70) near the lakeshore. A surface low forecast to dive southeast out of Canada into New England late Friday could swing another backdoor front across the area into Saturday and accordingly lead to cooler conditions extending much farther inland, similar to today.

A narrow ribbon of higher low-level moisture will extend from the Gulf north across the Central Plains into next week. The very dry airmass here locally should keep this axis well to our west, though a few showers may brush far western Illinois along the Mississippi River at times. The blocking pattern eventually begins to break down toward mid to late next week which could lead to precipitation chances returning to the region.

Petr

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 626 AM CDT Thu May 28 2026

Dry and VFR conditions are forecast through the TAF window. Winds will remain out of the northeast through today with occasional gusts up to 20 knots. Winds are expected to diminish after 00Z, becoming light and variable. After sunrise tomorrow, winds will remain light but turn to the south-southeast.

DK

LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

IL...Beach Hazards Statement through this evening for ILZ006-ILZ103- ILZ104.

IN...Beach Hazards Statement through this evening for INZ001-INZ002.

LM...Small Craft Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for the IL and IN nearshore waters.