Currently in Chicago — September 20, 2023: Wednesday goes from damp to dry

Chicago will see another grey and cloudy day on Wednesday, starting with showers and a chance of thunderstorms Tuesday night. Gusty 20mp winds in the wee hours of the morning will bring more clouds and a 30% chance of rain, but with a little luck those clouds will part and we’ll get to enjoy some sun in the afternoon. Wednesday’s high should be close to 80°; even though we’ve been rather damp lately, the humidity will only reach 55%. Wednesday night should be dry but cloudy, with a low in the mid-60s, but we will probably see more rain on Thursday — so enjoy the dry spell while you can.

— Katje Sabin

What you need to know, currently.

There was a spectacular display of northern lights — aurora borealis — on Tuesday, caused by a direct hit from particles sent Earthward from a solar explosion.

We’re in the middle of a multi-year peak of activity on the sun, so northern lights should be more common than in previous years. And the best time to see them is during the fall and winter, when the temperatures aren’t yet too cold, and the nights are getting nice and long.

One of my favorite websites, spaceweather.com, will keep you up-to-date on upcoming chances to see the aurora.

— Eric Holthaus

What you can do, currently.

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One of my favorite organizations, Mutual Aid Disaster Relief, serves as a hub of mutual aid efforts focused on climate action in emergencies — like hurricane season. Find mutual aid network near you and join, or donate to support existing networks: