Weather StoryAlmanac, microseasons, and the day's weather story.

Champaign, Illinois Weather

Sun climbs to its northern throne. Day 88 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Champaign weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

Champaign, IL
Monday, June 15 at 10:14 AM
66
°
Clear
Feels like
68°
Humidity
64%
Wind
4 mph
Sunrise
12:23 AM
Sunset
3:23 PM
Champaign, IL
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastChampaign, IL: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 55 to 74 degrees Fahrenheit.
L 55°H 74°
Champaign, IL
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jun 15
    Mostly Clear
    74°55°
  2. Tuesday
    Jun 16
    Drizzle
    38%
    0.03″
    75°55°+1°
  3. Wednesday
    Jun 17
    T-storm w/ Hvy Hail
    96%
    81°54°+6°
  4. Thursday
    Jun 18
    Light Drizzle
    96%
    74°56°-7°
  5. Friday
    Jun 19
    Light Drizzle
    72°55°-2°
  6. Saturday
    Jun 20
    Overcast
    14%
    70°55°-2°
  7. Sunday
    Jun 21
    Light Drizzle
    45%
    0.09″
    66°61°-4°
Champaign, IL
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
WSW
254° · backing 53°
Direction
WSW
254°
Sustained
4
mph
Gust
10
mph
Peak 24h
26
avg 8
Beaufort · 2 · LIGHT BRZ
0
CALM
<1
1
LIGHT AIR
1–3
2
LIGHT BRZ
4–7
3
GENTLE BRZ
8–12
4
MOD BRZ
13–18
5
FRESH BRZ
19–24
6
STRONG BRZ
25–31
7
NEAR GALE
32–38
24h · sust vs gust · mph
avg 8 · pk 26 @ 2:00p
0102030MPHB1B2B3B4B5B6-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 2511SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Light breeze backing 53° from the wsw.
Champaign, IL
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
989.2
+0.8 mb in 3h · rising · 29.21 inHg
Now
989.2
mb
3h
+0.8
mb
12h
+2.2
mb
24h
+5.1
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 984989
9809859909951000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR10201025FAIR|DRY1030-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW989.2984.1989.2
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Deep low — expect rough seas, strong wind, and persistent rain.
Champaign, IL
Air quality
28
AQI
Good
+1 in 6hPeak ~36 @ 9 PM

AQI 28 (Good), driven by Ozone. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±3 points). Ozone at AQI 35 now. With UV 6.8 peaking around 1 PM under clear skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 32 around 1 PM.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion during the projected peak around 9 PM.

PM 2.5Good
5.0μg/m³
PM 10Good
6μg/m³
NO₂Good
1μg/m³
OzoneDRIVERModerate
74μg/m³
UV IndexModerate
4.8

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 35 now. With UV 6.8 peaking around 1 PM under clear skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 32 around 1 PM.

Present
AQI 35
UV peak
6.8 at 1 PM
Sky at peak
clear
Projected peak
AQI 32

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 5.0 µg/m³ (AQI 28) with a 0.91 fine-to-coarse ratio and 4 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

PM2.5/PM10
0.91
Wind
calm
Recent rain
0h in last 6h
Pattern
stagnant smoke
Champaign, IL
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
1%
CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow

Visibility
58.5mi
UNLIMITED
72 mi0 mi−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Earth · GOES-19 ABI
Full Disk · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 full disk Visible · GeoColor
True-color daytime, blue/IR sandwich at night
15:14 UTC · Champaign, IL · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · up to 10848 px
Continental US · GOES-19 ABI
CONUS Sector · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 CONUS Visible · GeoColor
Daytime true-color, blue-light/IR sandwich at night
15:14 UTC · Champaign, IL · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Champaign, IL
Satellite · infrared · animated
Champaign, IL
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Champaign, IL
Almanac · Monday, June 15
A summer fog for fair, a winter fog for rain.
Civil dawn
4:51 AM
Sunrise
12:23 AM
Daylight
15h 00m
Sunset
3:23 PM
Civil dusk
8:58 PM
Planting note
Stake and prune tomato suckers. Watch for squash vine borers.
Champaign, IL
The moon
New Moon
1% illuminated
Moonrise
5:26 AM
Moonset
8:40 PM
In sign
♋︎ Cancer
Champaign, IL
Microseason
Jun 11–15

Sun climbs to its northern throne

insect
Jan 145% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Champaign at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 9°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: April 17 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jun 11–15
  • Planting window: Stake and prune tomato suckers. Watch for squash vine borers.

16-Day Forecast — Champaign

  1. Mon74°55°0%
  2. Tue75°55°38%
  3. Wed81°54°96%
  4. Thu74°56°96%
  5. Fri72°55°2%
  6. Sat70°55°14%
  7. Sun66°61°45%
  8. Mon72°57°45%
  9. Tue72°52°18%
  10. Wed75°56°10%
  11. Thu80°60°9%
  12. Fri86°69°23%
  13. Sat89°74°46%
  14. Sun88°73°26%
  15. Mon80°67°35%
  16. Tue81°64°45%

Forecast data from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0).

Live wind & temperature near Champaign

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of June 15, 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 — Champaign

SPC has placed Champaign in the Enhanced Risk category for severe thunderstorms day after tomorrow.

  • TODAYNONENo severe risk
  • TOMORROWMRGLMarginal Risk
  • DAY 3ENHEnhanced Risk

Numerous severe storms likely. Tornadoes, large hail, and damaging wind gusts possible across the area. Track NWS warnings if storms develop.

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.

January 1–5: Frost quiets the live oaks.January 6–10: Still water thickens with ice.January 11–15: Springs begin to move beneath ice.January 16–20: Cardinal dawn calls grow bolder.January 21–25: Late January thaw pulses.January 26–31: Last freeze locks the land.February 1–5: February's lengthening light.February 6–10: Warming winds thaw the margin.February 11–15: Magnolia blooms break the gray.February 16–20: Mockingbirds resume the dawn chorus.February 21–25: Rain replaces the last snow.February 26–28: Mist clings to greening valleys.March 1–5: The green pulse awakens.March 6–10: Hibernators emerge to call.March 11–15: Dogwood and redbud ignite.March 16–20: Swallowtails emerge from winter silk.March 21–25: Light crowns the dogwood canopy.March 26–31: Redbud cascades over the thaw.April 1–5: Thunder announces the wet season.April 6–10: Barn swallows carve the warming sky.April 11–15: Magnolia blooms and falls in a breath.April 16–20: First rainbows arch over thunderheads.April 21–25: Reeds push through marsh water.April 26–30: Frost retreats; seedlings rise free.May 1–5: Warblers flood the canopy in waves.May 6–10: Tulip poplar lights the forest crown.May 11–15: Shad pulse upstream through rapids.May 16–20: Roses open on the Piedmont edge.May 21–25: Fireflies scout the humid dusk.May 26–31: Frog choruses rise from every wetland.June 1–5: Fireflies pulse through the magnolias.June 6–10: Kudzu climbs deeper into green.June 11–15: Sun climbs to its northern throne.June 16–20: Heat settles and the rain begins.June 21–25: The longest day turns toward shadow.June 26–30: Fireflies drift through Spanish moss.July 1–5: Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon.July 6–10: Thunderheads boil and break at dusk.July 11–15: Thunder builds each drowsy afternoon.July 16–20: Cicadas claim the long noon.July 21–25: Dog days drape the earth in haze.July 26–31: Katydids begin their rasping chorus.August 1–5: Dusk arrives one minute earlier each night.August 6–10: Meteorological summer's turning page.August 11–15: Cool winds gather at the margins.August 16–20: Dog-day cicadas rise.August 21–25: Heat breaks in creek beds.August 26–31: Monarchs gather strength.September 1–5: Harvests begin in earnest.September 6–10: Dew beads on resurrection fern.September 11–15: Raptors trail the thermals.September 16–20: Day and dark find balance.September 21–25: Thunder quiets the land.September 26–30: Insects retreat below.October 1–5: Swamp waters recede.October 6–10: Maples ignite the ridge.October 11–15: Asters crown the meadows.October 16–20: Crickets sing at dusk.October 21–25: Frost paints the garden.October 26–31: Light rains whisper down.November 1–5: Sweetgum Turns Crimson.November 6–10: Camellia Blooms Break Through.November 11–15: Earth Stiffens Underfoot.November 16–20: Bare Limbs Hold the Light.November 21–25: First Frost Grips the High Ground.November 26–30: North Wind Strips the Last Leaves.December 1–5: Darkness Falls Before Dinner.December 6–10: Winter Locks the Land.December 11–15: Wildlife Retreats to Shelter.December 16–20: Ice Edges Deepen Inward.December 21–25: The Sun Begins its Return.December 26–31: The Year Turns in Silence.🌱February 14 — First skunk-cabbage spathes thaw their way up☀️March 20 — Spring equinox — day and night balance🌸April 5 — Cherry blossoms peak in the parks🐦May 10 — Warbler migration peaks along the coastMay 25 — First fireflies scout the meadows at dusk🌞June 21 — Summer solstice — longest day🦗July 25 — Peak cicada chorus in the afternoons🌊August 18 — Warmest sea-surface temperatures of the year🍂September 22 — Autumn equinox — the slow turn❄️October 25 — First widespread frost in the suburbs🍁November 10 — Peak leaf color across the Hudson Valley🌙December 21 — Winter solstice — longest night

Microseason · June 11–15

Sun climbs to its northern throne

Days lengthen toward solstice; longest light lingers until after 8 PM, heat building steadily.

Day 166 of 365 · Wedge 33 of 72

The solar year drawn as a wheel of 72 five-day windows. Each wedge is one microseason; the four colored arcs mark winter, spring, summer, and autumn; the small icons sit at notable phenological events. The crimson pointer creeps clockwise as the year turns.

Planting calendar

MonthPlantHarvest
January
February
March
Aprillettuce, peas, spinach, radishes
Maylettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Junetomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Julytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashtomatoes, beans, summer squash
Augusttomatoes, beans, summer squash
Septemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotstomatoes, beans, summer squash
Octoberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotswinter squash, tomatoes (last)
November
December

A year in weather

Champaign's warmest month is July (~75°F mean) and its coldest is January (~26°F). Rainfall peaks in May (4.8 inches) and bottoms out in February (2.2 inches).

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January26°2.35
February30°2.25
March41°2.86
April52°3.98
May63°4.89
June72°4.67
July75°4.57
August74°3.56
September67°3.45
October55°3.46
November41°3.26
December31°2.45

Regional context

Champaign swings from 26°F in January to 75°F in July (50°F) per NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals; precipitation in Champaign runs about 40.9 inches on roughly 74 measurable days.

Summer convection drives Champaign's precipitation: May logs 4.8 inches on 8.6 rainy days, against February's 2.2 inches on 4.6 — warm-season storms carry Champaign's moisture. That summer-storm rhythm groups Champaign with places like Savoy, IL, Urbana, IL and Bondville, IL.

Around mid-April, Champaign sheds its freezing nights — kale, peas, spinach, and parsnips go into Champaign's beds. Heat-demanding starts go out a fortnight on in Champaign, after the soil warms and cold snaps clear. Frost returns to Champaign near mid-November, ending the tender-crop season. Champaign's low ground holds frost later into spring than Champaign's benches, which run 3-5 days ahead.

Similar climates: Savoy, IL, Urbana, IL, Bondville, IL, Mahomet, IL, Seymour, IL.

Naturalist notes

Red-winged blackbirds return to cattail marshes around Champaign in mid-March, their territorial calls marking spring's arrival.

Wild bergamot begins blooming in late May, attracting native bees to prairie remnants throughout the area.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Champaign?
Champaign's last spring frost lands near mid-April, and in Champaign the first fall frost follows around mid-November.
What is the rainy season in Champaign?
May is the wettest month in Champaign, about 4.8 inches on average; the year totals roughly 41 inches.
What is the warmest month in Champaign?
On average July tops the year in Champaign at about 75°F.
What is the coldest month in Champaign?
The coldest stretch in Champaign falls in January, around 26°F on average.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Champaign?
In Champaign, sow peas and hardy greens around mid-April; Champaign's tomatoes and peppers wait two weeks more.
How many rainy days does Champaign get?
Expect roughly 74 wet days a year in Champaign.
What hardiness zone is Champaign?
Because Champaign bottoms near 26°F in January, that winter low sets Champaign's USDA zone — verify by ZIP.
What is the 10-day forecast for Champaign?
Champaign's extended outlook — daily high and low temperatures and precipitation chances for each upcoming day — is in the daily forecast above.
Will it rain this week in Champaign?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Champaign in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Champaign?
Current conditions for Champaign and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Champaign forecast updated?
The Champaign forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Champaign?
Day length in Champaign peaks around the June solstice — earliest sunrise and latest sunset — and is shortest near the December solstice.
How accurate is the weather forecast for Champaign?
The next few days in Champaign's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

The humid subtropical climate of Champaign, Illinois carries typical Januarys near 26°F and Julys around 75°F — 49°F of seasonal travel.

Yearly precipitation in Champaign totals around 41 inches, spread over about 74 days of rain or snow.

From 40.1°N, Champaign sees a 49°F seasonal swing that governs Champaign's planting and frost windows.

ZIP codes in Champaign

  • 61822
  • 61820
  • 61821
  • 61824
  • 61825
  • 61826

Climate normals from the Open-Meteo Climate API. Köppen approximation from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Regions. See methodology for data sources, editorial rules, and corrections. Maintainer: Brian Tighe.