Chicago weather
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Chicago hit 85°F at O'Hare Monday, breaking a daily record set in 2008.
The same week ends near 58°F, so the swing matters more than the heat.
Background
Normal highs for mid-October in Chicago are 64–65°F, so the region ran roughly 20 degrees above normal. The warmth followed an unseasonably hot Saturday and a still-warm Chicago Marathon Sunday, then a cold front was forecast to move through Wednesday. Meteorologists described the setup as unusual for October, with lakefront readings held down by winds off the lake.
How it unfolded
- Oct 10, 2026Rain chances were expected in Chicago, with mostly sunny skies forecast for Sunday and Monday.
- Oct 11, 2026O'Hare recorded a high of 80 on Saturday and 78 on Sunday; lakefront temperatures stayed in the upper 60s to around 70.
- Oct 12, 2026The temperature officially hit 85°F at O'Hare on Monday afternoon, breaking the daily record of 84 set in 2008; Rockford also set a record at 87°F.
- Oct 13, 2026Tuesday stayed unseasonably warm with highs around 80–81°F, then storms were forecast to move in by 7–8 p.m. and ramp up after 10–11 p.m., with a marginal severe risk in DeKalb, LaSalle, Kankakee, Kendall and Grundy counties.
- Oct 14, 2026A cold front was expected Wednesday, bringing rain, storms and highs in the 60s.
- Oct 15, 2026Another round of showers and storms was possible Thursday afternoon and night, with highs back in the low 60s.
- Oct 16, 2026Friday was forecast to be chilly with highs in the low to mid 50s and sunshine.
- Oct 17, 2026Friday night was expected in the upper 30s, with Saturday back to the upper 50s and sunshine through Sunday.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- NWS senior meteorologist Gino Izzi said the heat was slightly above normal for mid-July, calling it 'really unusual for October.'
- Analysts
- NBC 5 meteorologist Iisha Scott framed the week as 'a summer feel to start the week' followed by a 'really big temperature drop,' noting 'we go from 85 Monday to 58 for a high on Friday.'
- Caution
- NBC 5 meteorologist Kevin Jeanes said winds shifting out of the east in the afternoon would bring slightly cooler temperatures to the lakefront as remnants of Hurricane Isaias moved north.
Still unverified
The record was officially set in the early afternoon, meaning the new record could still be a few degrees warmer as daytime heating continues, according to the NBC 5 Storm Team.