Smoke from out-of-state fires has triggered an Air Quality Alert in Chicago on July 16, 2026. Expect hazy skies and limited outdoor activity today.

Hot, hazy Wednesday in Chicago: highs near 92°F, heat index near 99, and an Air Quality Alert through midnight. Plan for smoke and limited overnight relief.

Hot and muggy today with highs near 91°F and an Air Quality Alert through tonight.

Sunny and warm today with highs near 88°F; inland heat may spike midweek with heat indices near 100°F. City cooling centers are available.

Sunny now with a high near 82°F. Heat builds into the upper 80s–90s midweek; check cooling centers if you lack AC.

A 47-year-old woman’s autopsy lists heat stroke as the primary cause of death, marking the fifth heat-linked fatality in the Chicago area since July 1.

Rip currents prompted hundreds of rescues and multiple deaths over the Fourth of July holiday. Lifeguards and NOAA explain the steps that can keep you safe if you're pulled out.

Mostly sunny Saturday with highs near 79°F and breezy northeast winds. Heat returns early next week with highs into the 90s and cooling centers available.

Patchy fog for the early commute; highs near 76°F and only spotty showers south of I‑80. Warmer conditions arrive early next week.

Scattered thunderstorms are likely in Chicago today with heavy downpours and gusty winds. Localized flooding is possible where soils remain saturated.

Sunny Wednesday with highs near 87°F and a chance of storms Thursday. Expect heavy downpours and gusty winds in the afternoon and evening.

An 8-year-old in Serena died after a backyard lightning strike; a preliminary autopsy by the LaSalle County coroner found fatal injuries and the death remains under investigation.

Two underground "wing" storage units were unveiled in Austin, adding about 1.7 million gallons of temporary capacity to ease neighborhood flooding during heavy storms.