Nature’s air conditioning Thursday with highs across the Chicago area nearly 10 degrees below normal but quite comfortable
Thursday forecast highs
![](https://wgntv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/THU-HIGHS-1.png?strip=1)
How far from normal?
![](https://wgntv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-17-at-19-56-26-Models-ECMWF-AIFS-Pivotal-Weather.png?strip=1)
A noticeable drop in humidity…
![](https://wgntv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/FG_DewPoints.jpg?strip=1)
Wednesday’s early evening Dewpoints
![](https://wgntv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/Current-Dewpoints-DMA-1.jpg?strip=1)
Change from same time Tuesday
![](https://wgntv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/24-HOUR-DEWPOINT-CHANGE-1.jpg?strip=1)
Plenty of sunshine observed on Wednesday, more to come on Thursday in what’s been a cloudier-than-normal July thus far
![](https://wgntv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/PREDICTED-CLOUD-COVER-2.jpg?strip=1)
![](https://wgntv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/Total-Sunshine-2.jpg?strip=1)
Slightly cooler than normal pattern locked in place until possibly the final days of July…
850 millibar temperature anomaly through August 1
850 millibar temperature anomaly is a good indicator for temperatures at the surface—this depicts the temperatures relative to normal just one mile above the ground.
![](https://wgntv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/floop-ecmwf_aifs-2024071712.850t_anom.na_.gif?strip=1)
Extended break from the heat across the central U.S.
Forecast temperature anomaly through July 23
![](https://wgntv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/NEXT-7-DAYS-2.jpeg?w=900)
Rainfall across the Chicagoland area looks sparse over the next week, good news for area rivers that are near or approaching flood-stage
![](https://wgntv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/7-DAY-RAINS.jpg?strip=1)
![](https://wgntv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/FGRivers.jpg?strip=1)