Smoky Skies In IL, Warm And Dry Week Expected

ILLINOIS — Wildfire smoke from fires in the western United States have reached northern Illinois. According to the National Weather Service, the sky in northern Illinois will have a milky white or even gray appearance.

The smoke won't have an impact on the forecast, which is expected to be dry and warm for most of the week. A cold front will move into the area in the later part of the week, the weather service said. This will cause temps to be in the 70s on Thursday and in the 60s on Friday.

It should be sunny and dry all week, which is a change from the last two weeks in the Chicago area. The weather service said from Sept. 1-12, there was only 40 percent sunshine. Normal sunshine for September is 64 percent.

Here is a more detailed look at the weather for this week, with a forecast from the National Weather Service:

MONDAY: Mostly sunny, with a high near 73. East northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

MONDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear, with a low around 53. East northeast wind around 5 mph becoming south southeast after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 10 mph.

TUESDAY: Sunny, with a high near 77. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.

TUESDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear, with a low around 55. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

WEDNESDAY: Sunny, with a high near 81. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy, with a low around 60.

THURSDAY: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.

THURSDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear, with a low around 52.

FRIDAY: Mostly sunny, with a high near 64.

FRIDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy, with a low around 48.