Chicago Hit a Record-Setting 88 Degrees Monday; Region Could See Frost by Weekend

Science & Nature

Chicago Hit a Record-Setting 88 Degrees Monday; Region Could See Frost by Weekend

Patty Wetli | October 13, 2026, 9:27 am

(Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)

Chicago basked in rare October heat Monday, setting a new daily record-high temperature of 88 degrees, blowing past the old record of 84, according to the National Weather Service.

Between marathon finishers and their supporters still in town following Sunday’s race, and many Chicagoans taking advantage of a long holiday weekend, downtown shops, restaurants and parks were bustling on a fall day that felt more like summer.

Tuesday won’t be quite as warm in Chicago, but temperatures will still be well above normal.

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More seasonal temperatures are set to arrive later in the week as a cold front pushes through Friday. Gardeners take note: The weather service is warning of potential frost Friday night, particularly away from Chicago and Lake Michigan.

There won’t be a need to pull out the parka just yet. High temperatures next week should remain in the 60s, the weather service said, and while Chicago isn’t likely to see 80 degrees again this year, days in the 70s are still possible, forecasters said.

So how unusual was Monday’s mini heatwave?

Aside from breaking the record for Oct. 12, yesterday’s high of 88 degrees was only the fourth time since 1871 that it has been so warm in Chicago so late in the year. And two of those instances took place on back-to-back days in 1975, when the mercury hit 88 degrees on Oct. 13 and 89 degrees on Oct. 14. In 1947, it was 88 degrees on Oct. 15.