Dive into this week’s weather overview as Meteorologist Amy Freeze analyzes the Midwest climate from sunny skies to approaching storms. Check more on our blog!

Chicago Afternoon News – 04/17/2025. Meteorologist Amy Freeze here with your Midwest Forecast update. Experience an array of weather conditions from partly cloudy skies over Chicago to a storm line stretching across Springfield to St. Louis. Kansas City sees significant rainfall, while Detroit and Cleveland enjoy clear skies. Get the full details, including temperatures and storm predictions, at https://amyfreeze.ai/ On the Regional Radar, a line of strong storms stretches from Springfield to St. Louis, moving eastward. Kansas City is experiencing significant rain, with thunderstorms developing near Des Moines. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are pushing through western Illinois towards Peoria. Cloud cover increases as rain approaches Indianapolis, leaving Fort Wayne dry for now. The areas around Detroit and Cleveland enjoy clear conditions.
Chicago’s afternoon forecast includes temperatures hovering around 60 degrees. Winds are steady from the south-southeast at 18 miles per hour, bringing a cool breeze. Expect showers to start by 4 PM, transitioning to cloudy skies by 6 PM, with clouds persisting into the evening hours.
Today in the Midwest, high temperatures are on the rise with some notable variations. Kansas City is leading the pack with a warm high of 82 degrees, while St. Louis reaches a comfortable 77. Indianapolis will see a high of 68 degrees, slightly cooler than Peoria, which is forecasted to hit 68 as well. In comparison, Chicago is experiencing a cooler afternoon with a high of 63. To the north, Fort Wayne will reach 66 degrees, while Detroit settles at 61. Cleveland remains the chillier spot in the region, with a high of just 59 degrees.
Tonight, the Midwest will experience cooler temperatures as a cold front settles in. Look for lows around 39 degrees in Des Moines and a chilly 46 in Chicago. Kansas City will see a slightly milder low of 46, while St. Louis drops to 55 degrees. Indianapolis is expected to be a comfortable 63 degrees Expect lows around 64 in Columbus, with Louisville reaching 68.
Tomorrow, the Midwest will experience a warm-up with above-average high temperatures. Chicago is expected to reach 75 degrees, while Indianapolis and Louisville will see highs of 81 and 82 degrees, respectively. Peoria is even warmer at 81 degrees. Notably, Charleston, West Virginia, could hit a sizzling 88 degrees.
A line of showers extends from Des Moines through Chicago to Indianapolis tomorrow, bringing light to moderate rain across the region. Expect cooler temperatures following the rain, with highs only reaching the low 60s in Chicago and surrounding areas. St. Louis and Louisville will likely remain dry, but clouds could keep temperatures in the mid-60s. No severe weather is anticipated, but drivers in Indianapolis should watch for wet roads in the morning. This system clears by afternoon.
The UV index in Chicago on Thursday is moderate with a value of 4, offering a burn time of about 35 minutes under direct sun exposure. Moving into Friday, the UV index decreases to 3.