90-degree heat sent packing as temperatures drop 15+ degrees Wednesday afternoon

NOTE: This article is now an almanac of Wednesday’s weather. We have published a new forecast story for Thursday.

The 90-degree heat is gone — for now!! Much cooler conditions were present across the Chicago area Wednesday afternoon as extensive cloud coverage and northeast winds off Lake Michigan contributed to the noticeable drop in temperatures. 

Late afternoon temperature snapshot, wind speeds and change from same time Tuesday afternoon.

Gone are the 90s of recent days, instead much of the area was in the upper 60s to middle 70s, a drop of nearly 20-degrees in some areas.   

Wednesday afternoon rain 

A cold front passed through the area and as the transition to cooler air took place, showers and thunderstorms brought locally heavy downpours to some areas, especially southern sections. The heaviest reported rainfall was in Chebanse (Iroquois/Kankakee County border) where nearly 3.50” of rain fell Wednesday afternoon causing localized flash flooding. Official city rainfall totals were considerably less. 

Wednesday sunshine

A few rays of sunshine were observed later in the day in what was otherwise a dreary late July day.  

Wednesday pollen count

Mold continues to be the biggest nuisance for allergy sufferers.