Chicago Braces for Stormy Saturday with Temperatures in the Mid-70s

Lead Chicago awoke to overcast skies and scattered thunderstorms on Saturday, September 13, as temperatures rose to a daytime high of 74°F amid gusty SSE winds and a 55% chance of rainfall.

Nut Graf The combination of lingering clouds, intermittent downpours and moderate winds has heightened flash-flood concerns in low-lying neighborhoods, prompting the Chicago Office of Emergency Management to urge residents to avoid flooded roadways and secure loose outdoor objects.

Morning Overcast and Dewy Start Shortly after dawn, the city recorded 70°F under dense cloud cover, with humidity near 72% and a dew point of 61°F. Visibility remained good at 11 miles despite the gray skies.

Afternoon Thunderstorms and Peak Temperature

Scattered thunderstorms developed by late morning, bringing heavy rainfall accumulations of 0.34 inches and frequent lightning strikes.
Peak temperature reached 74°F under broken skies, with SSE winds sustained at 9 mph and gusts up to 16 mph.
UV Index peaked at 4.0 (Moderate), offering brief sun breaks between showers.

Evening Transition to Partly Cloudy Skies

After 6 PM, showers tapered off to isolated thunderstorms, with temperatures falling to 65°F by nightfall.
Winds shifted to ESE at 7 mph with gusts up to 12 mph, reducing humidity to 46% and improving visibility.

Key Details

High/Low: 74°F/65°F
Precipitation: 0.34 inches (2 hours of rain)
Wind: SSE 9 mph, gusts to 16 mph
Humidity: 72% morning → 46% evening
Dew Point: 61°F
Visibility: 11 miles

Outlook Sunday promises a turnaround, with sunny skies, highs near 76°F, and minimal rain chances, as high pressure builds over the Midwest.