textproduct: Chicago

KEY MESSAGES

- Isolated showers late this afternoon/early this evening, then another chance of showers Sunday night.

- Low chance (10-20%) for snow showers Monday night and again Tuesday night.

- Potential unsettled pattern with periods of showers and scattered thunderstorms late next week into next weekend.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 208 PM CDT Sat Apr 4 2026

Windy conditions are expected through Sunday afternoon with the strongest winds, gusting into the mid 30 mph range, expected this afternoon into this evening.

As the upper low lifts northeast across the upper Great Lakes this evening, a weak disturbance will rotate across the area and may allow for a few showers/sprinkles through early/mid evening, mainly across the northwest half of the cwa and have included low chance pops for this potential. There could be a few snowflakes mixed in as well this evening.

A cold front will move south across the region Sunday night into Monday morning and there remains some differences in the models, but there will be another low chance for mainly rain showers ahead of this front Sunday night, mainly across northeast IL. Depending on their timing and the arrival of the colder air, there may also be a few snowflakes mixed in, assuming showers actually materialize.

Some of the guidance is showing another cold front moving south down Lake Michigan Monday evening and developing snow showers along this front, most notable on the NAM. Fairly low confidence for this time period and maintained a dry forecast, but will need to monitor this possibility. After morning lows in the 20s, Tuesday looks to be the coldest day of the week with high temps likely staying in the 40s for most areas. There may be a short duration of precipitation Tuesday night as warm air advection begins across the area. This has been a rather consistent feature in the models for the past few days and there is some potential this could be a rain/snow mix. Low confidence and no changes to blended low chance pops across northwest IL.

A cold front is expected to move across the area late Wednesday night into Thursday bringing a chance of showers. This front then looks to meander across the southern Great Lakes region through next weekend with various potential waves of showers and thunderstorms. cms

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z MONDAY/

Issued at 627 PM CDT Sat Apr 4 2026

Key messages for the 00Z TAF period:

* MVFR cigs lifting to VFR early in the period, then returning to MVFR late tonight. Final return to VFR toward end of Sunday morning

* Westerly winds remaining gusty through Sunday afternoon

Cigs are gradually lifting to low VFR across northern IL as of 23Z. The Chicago sites are expected to improve to VFR between 00 and 01Z this evening. A few sprinkles or very light showers can't be ruled out this evening, although TAFs were kept dry. MVFR cigs will return sometime overnight or early Sunday morning, although confidence is rather low. Best guess is around 07Z at RFD and 09Z in Chicago, but give or take a few hours. MVFR will prevail through the morning with a final return to VFR slated for the early afternoon.

Additionally, westerly winds will continue gusting to between 25 and 30 kt, occasionally up to around 35 kt, through Sunday morning. Winds will subside some but remain gusty for the afternoon before coming down to 10 to 12 kt for the evening period.

Doom

LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

IL...None. IN...None. LM...Small Craft Advisory until 10 AM CDT Sunday for the IL and IN nearshore waters.