Summer is giving one last kick in Illinois this week, with temperatures forecast to reach the 90s before we settle into the cool autumn season, according to the National Weather Service.
But is this type of heat wave typical in September? And when are temperatures expected to cool off?
Here’s the forecast.
Central Illinois daily forecast
Monday: Sunny with a high near 91 and lows around 61.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny with highs of 89-92 and lows around 60-63.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny with highs of 89-92 and lows around 60-62.
Thursday: Partly cloudy with highs of 89-92 and lows around 59-61.
Friday: Scattered thunderstorms with highs of 85-90 and lows around 60-65.
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Chicago daily forecast
Monday: Sunny with a highs of 83-89 and lows around 57-63. Temperatures in the 70s on the lakeshore.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny with highs of 82-89 and lows around 56-63. Temperatures in the upper 70s on the lakeshore.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny with highs of 83-88 and lows around 58-64. Temperatures in the upper 70s on the lakeshore.
Thursday: Partly cloudy with highs of 82-89 and lows around 58-65. Temperatures near 80 degrees on the lakeshore.
Friday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms with highs of 79-86 and lows around 59-63. Temperatures in the mid-70s on the lakeshore.
Is it usually this hot in September?
These temperatures are actually pretty on-par for parts of Illinois, according to climate records published by the NWS.
In Chicago, the average monthly temperature for September is 71.2 degrees, while the average high is 80.7 and the average low is 64.5. The hottest September temperature on record was 101 degrees in 1953, while the hottest overall month was recorded in 1931.
Meanwhile, in central Illinois, the forecast is a bit warmer than the monthly average of 66.3 degrees, with an average high of 79.2 and an average low of 53.4. The warmest September day on record in central Illinois was 104 degrees in 1954.
When will it cool off in Illinois?
Temperatures are forecast to drop to the mid-70s by Saturday in Chicago, according to the NWS.
Central Illinois is expected to remain hot for a bit longer, however, with temperatures remaining in the 80s and 90s through around Sept. 27, according to Accuweather. Southern Illinois will experience summer temperatures for even longer than that, with autumn relief expected in mid-October.
When is the first day of fall?
Fall officially begins this year on Monday, Sept. 22.
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Central Illinois weather radar
Chicago weather radar
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: When will it cool off in Illinois? See daily forecast, weather radar
