Aurora, Illinois Weather
Fireflies rise from the lawn. Day 77 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
Aurora weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar
- TodayJun 4Overcast——86°58°—
- FridayJun 5Heavy Drizzle73%0.04″82°68°-4°
- SaturdayJun 6Showers59%0.27″80°65°-2°
- SundayJun 7Overcast13%—85°68°+5°
- MondayJun 8Light Showers40%—82°67°-3°
- TuesdayJun 9Light Drizzle29%—84°68°+2°
- WednesdayJun 10Heavy Drizzle20%—86°71°+2°
PM2.5 at 6.2 µg/m³ (AQI 34) with a 0.94 fine-to-coarse ratio and 6 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust. AQI down 26 over the last 6 hours — air quality is improving sharply.
OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.
What's driving it
Ozone × UV × Sky
Ozone at AQI 32. Overcast through the UV peak window (cloud cover ~100%) — afternoon ozone should stay flat.
- Present
- AQI 32
- UV peak
- 3.3 at 1 PM
- Sky at peak
- overcast
- Projected peak
- AQI 7
PM × Wind × Precip
PM2.5 at 6.2 µg/m³ (AQI 34) with a 0.94 fine-to-coarse ratio and 6 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.
- PM2.5/PM10
- 0.94
- Wind
- light
- Recent rain
- 0h in last 6h
- Pattern
- stagnant smoke
Trends
Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.
Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).
A summer fog for fair, a winter fog for rain.
- Moonrise
- 4:28 AM
- Moonset
- 1:49 PM
- In sign
- ♑︎ Capricorn
Fireflies rise from the lawn
Aurora at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 13°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: April 27 (climatological average for this latitude)
- Microseason: Jun 1–5
- Planting window: Harvest spring lettuce before it bolts. Sow heat-tolerant greens.
Right now in the garden
Peak growing season
As of June 4, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.
SPC Convective Outlook
Storm Prediction Center — Aurora
SPC has placed Aurora in the Marginal Risk category for severe thunderstorms tomorrow.
- TODAYNONENo severe risk
- TOMORROWMRGLMarginal Risk
- DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
Isolated severe storms possible. Limited threat for hail or damaging wind.
Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.
Planting calendar
| Month | Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | — |
| February | — | — |
| March | — | — |
| April | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes | — |
| May | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| June | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| July | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| August | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| September | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| October | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | winter squash, tomatoes (last) |
| November | — | — |
| December | — | — |
A year in weather
July stands as Aurora's warmest month with mean temperatures around 74°F, while January brings the coldest conditions at roughly 23°F. May delivers peak rainfall at 4.9 inches, contrasting with February's dry spell of just 1.8 inches.
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 23° | 1.9″ | 5 |
| February | 27° | 1.8″ | 4 |
| March | 38° | 2.4″ | 6 |
| April | 50° | 4.0″ | 8 |
| May | 61° | 4.9″ | 8 |
| June | 70° | 4.5″ | 8 |
| July | 74° | 4.2″ | 7 |
| August | 73° | 3.9″ | 7 |
| September | 66° | 3.4″ | 6 |
| October | 53° | 3.7″ | 6 |
| November | 40° | 2.7″ | 5 |
| December | 29° | 2.2″ | 5 |
Regional context
Aurora falls within the warm-summer humid continental climate region, sharing temperature ranges, seasonal patterns, and growing conditions with other nearby cities in this climate zone.
Similar climates: Chicago, IL, Rockford, IL, Round Lake Beach, IL, Naperville, IL, Joliet, IL.
Naturalist notes
Late May brings the peak flowering of native wild bergamot across Aurora's prairies, when the lavender blooms attract their first wave of native bees.
American goldfinches begin their late breeding season in July, timing their nests with the abundant thistle seeds that ripen during Aurora's warmest month.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Aurora?
- Spring's final frost typically occurs around mid-April in Aurora, while the first fall frost returns around mid-November.
- What is the rainy season in Aurora?
- May stands as the wettest month, delivering about 4.9 inches of rain on average, contributing to the city's annual total of roughly 39 inches.
- What is the warmest month in Aurora?
- July typically brings the warmest temperatures, averaging about 74°F.
- What is the coldest month in Aurora?
- January usually marks the coldest period, averaging about 23°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Aurora?
- Cool-season crops like peas and lettuce can be planted around the last spring frost in mid-April, while warm-season crops such as tomatoes and peppers should wait 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does Aurora get?
- Aurora sees about 74 rainy days per year on average.
- What hardiness zone is Aurora?
- Aurora's USDA hardiness zone depends on its lowest average winter temperature; the USDA's online lookup tool using the city ZIP code provides the current zone designation.
Climate
Aurora, Illinois experiences a warm-summer humid continental climate zone. Winter temperatures in January hover near 23°F, while July brings averages of 74°F — creating a 51°F seasonal swing.
Annual precipitation totals about 39 inches across roughly 74 rainy days throughout the year.
Weather patterns follow the city's latitude at 41.8°N, along with proximity to large water bodies and local elevation. These factors determine what grows in the area, frost timing, and daily weather conditions.