Meteorologist Amy Freeze delivers your essential Midwest weather forecast, covering Chicago’s fluctuating temps and incoming cold fronts. Stay prepared with our detailed analysis!

Meteorologist Amy Freeze covers the diverse weather patterns across the Midwest, analyzing temperature swings and rain movements impacting everything from travel plans to evening plans. Read on for a day-by-day breakdown in our comprehensive blog post.
On the Regional Radar, the Midwest is experiencing scattered rain showers, particularly around Chicago and Peoria, where light rain is making its way eastward. Fort Wayne and surrounding areas are seeing a mix of rain and patchy cloud cover. Heavy rain is impacting Cleveland as it moves toward eastern Ohio, with showers stretching into parts of the Northeast. Detroit is battling periods of light rain interspersed with cloudy conditions, while Saginaw remains relatively dry for now. Indications show moderate showers developing further south near Indianapolis, with potential for more widespread rain as the day progresses.
For this evening in Chicago, expect mostly cloudy skies transitioning to partially cloudy conditions. Temperatures will start at 50 degrees at 9 PM, dipping to 48 degrees by 11 PM, and reaching 47 degrees by 1 AM. Winds will shift from the northeast at 6 mph to a northward direction at 4 mph, finally calming with a westward shift at 3 mph.
Tonight in the Midwest, expect chilly temperatures as a cold front moves through. Chicago will drop to 46 degrees, while Indianapolis cools down to 48. Fort Wayne is forecasted to be slightly cooler at 40 degrees, and Cleveland will see a low of 49. Des Moines will stay relatively mild at 53 degrees. Kansas City rounds out the region with a low of 57 degrees, but get ready for a notable cool-down as we head into the upcoming days.
Tomorrow Kansas City will see a high of 68 degrees, while St. Louis tops out at 72 degrees. Peoria is also warm with a forecast high of 71 degrees. Meanwhile, Chicago will experience cooler temperatures at 58 degrees, setting up a notable contrast with cities further south. Indianapolis is expected to reach 69 degrees.
A line of showers moves across the Midwest, impacting areas from Chicago to Indianapolis tomorrow. Look for rain showers in the morning, gradually clearing by afternoon, but clouds linger. The cold front sweeping through later will usher in cooler air, dropping temperatures. Watch for gusty winds accompanying the frontal passage, which might impact travel. As the system moves east, expect drier conditions to prevail by the evening in cities like St. Louis and Des Moines.
The UV index in Chicago is expected to be moderate on Thursday with a level of 5, indicating a burn time of around 27 minutes with unpredictable skies due to potential storms. On Friday, be prepared for stronger sun exposure as the UV index rises to 8, with a burn time of just 17 minutes.
Thursday: We’ll see partly cloudy skies with a high of 56 degrees and a low of 44. Friday: A bit warmer as temperatures rise to 59 degrees with a low around 45, under partly cloudy skies. Saturday: The clouds remain, keeping it partly cloudy with a pleasant high of 59 degrees and a slight dip to 47 at night. Sunday: A mild day with partly cloudy conditions, hitting a high of 60 degrees and cooling to 48 degrees. Monday: Mostly cloudy skies and temperatures climbing to 62 degrees, lowering to 52 overnight. Tuesday: Expect partly cloudy skies with a high of 61 degrees and a low of 52. Wednesday: Slightly warmer under partly cloudy skies, reaching a high of 64 degrees and a low of 51.