Meteorologist Amy Freeze reports on a captivating weather trend across the Midwest. With diverse conditions from rain to sunshine, find out what’s in store for your area!

An intriguing week lies ahead for the Midwest with meteorologist Amy Freeze guiding you through. Today’s moderate to heavy rainfalls and the contrasting pleasant highs create a mosaic of weather conditions across the region. Looking ahead, expect transitions to clearer skies with occasional showers. Each day’s forecast detailed in this post will help you plan your activities effectively while staying weather-smart. On the Regional Radar, a line of scattered rain and thunderstorms is pushing across the Midwest. Chicago and Peoria are experiencing moderate rainfall with embedded heavier downpours. Precipitation extends into Fort Wayne and Cleveland, where moderate rain is prevalent. In contrast, St. Louis remains dry for now, but rain is approaching from Springfield, Illinois. Elsewhere, southern Illinois and the Ohio Valley, including Indianapolis and Louisville, are seeing overcast skies with rain showers moving through.
Temperatures in Chicago this afternoon hover around 63 degrees at 4 PM, dipping slightly to 60 degrees by 8 PM. The wind from the north-northeast is steady at about 12 miles per hour, maintaining a consistent breeze.
Today Chicago is on the cooler side with a high of just 58 degrees, while neighbors like Peoria and Indianapolis reach a more comfortable 70 degrees. St. Louis will be pleasantly warm at 75, and further south, Bowling Green is heating things up with a high of 78 degrees. Kansas City also enjoys mild weather, hitting 71 degrees. The contrasting temperatures highlight a significant gradient in conditions across the Midwest today.
Tonight Chicago will dip to 54 degrees, while Indianapolis is forecasted to be slightly cooler at 53 degrees. St. Louis is also on track for a low of 56 degrees, and Kansas City should see a comfortable 55 degrees. Expect even warmer temperatures in southern areas, with Louisville projected to reach 60, and Bowling Green warming to 63.
Tomorrow Des Moines will see a pleasant high of 70 degrees, while Kansas City reaches 71. In Illinois, Chicago is forecasted to hit 69 degrees, and Peoria matches that at 70. The temperatures soar higher in Indiana with Indianapolis reaching 74 degrees and Louisville hitting 81 degrees. Bowling Green in Kentucky could see a high around 83 degrees, marking a notable warm trend across the region.
A low-pressure system is moving through the Midwest, with showers expected across Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan by tomorrow morning. Detroit and Cleveland may see increased rain activity, especially with a chance of thunderstorms into the afternoon. Temperatures across the region will remain in the mid-60s to low-70s, offering a mild climate amid the rainy conditions. As the system moves eastward, expect clearing skies towards late Thursday, offering a brief respite before another system approaches. Keep an eye out for scattered showers that may linger in areas like Fort Wayne and Columbus into Friday.
The UV index in Chicago is moderate today, reaching a level of 4, with a burn time of approximately 35 minutes in direct sunlight. Expect strong storms that will reduce sun exposure significantly. On Thursday, the UV index increases to 5, lowering the burn time to 27 minutes.