It’s one of those days where you might find yourself glancing out the window more than usual, wondering what the sky has in store. For those in Dalton, Illinois, on Wednesday, October 29th, the answer was a persistent, gentle rain. As of 4:09 CDT, the forecast indicated rain continuing until 8:15 AM, setting a rather damp tone for the early morning hours.
The morning commute, or just stepping out for a bit, would have felt decidedly moist. Temperatures hovered around 10°C, but with a 'feels like' temperature dipping to 6°C, and humidity a hefty 95%, it was a classic damp chill. The wind, coming from the east-northeast at a steady 24 km/h, added to the feeling of a persistent, cool drizzle. By 6:00 AM, the rain was described as 'light,' with a slight increase in the 'feels like' temperature to 6°C, but the humidity remained high at 92%.
As the morning progressed, the rain showers began to taper off. By 8:00 AM, the chance of showers had dropped to 31%, and by 9:00 AM, the skies were simply 'cloudy,' with no rain expected. The humidity started to ease, and the wind picked up a bit, shifting to a northeasterly direction and gusting up to 27 km/h by 9:00 AM. The 'feels like' temperature remained cool, around 5°C, but the air was gradually becoming less saturated.
The afternoon in Dalton promised a shift. While the clouds largely persisted, the rain ceased. Temperatures climbed steadily, reaching a high of around 14°C by mid-afternoon. The wind continued its northeasterly push, peaking around 33 km/h around lunchtime, but gradually easing as the day wore on. Humidity levels dropped significantly, making the air feel much drier and more comfortable, especially as the 'feels like' temperature climbed into the low double digits.
As evening approached, the cloud cover began to break. By 5:00 PM, the sky was 'mostly cloudy,' and by 7:00 PM, it had transitioned to 'partly cloudy.' The temperatures started their descent, and the wind shifted slightly, becoming more northerly. The air continued to dry out, with humidity levels in the 40s and 50s for much of the evening.
The night into Thursday, October 30th, looked set to be clear. Temperatures dropped into the single digits Celsius, with 'feels like' temperatures dipping as low as 3°C overnight. The wind remained a steady northerly breeze, and the humidity began to creep back up as the skies cleared. By dawn, the forecast suggested a return to partly cloudy conditions, but without the persistent rain of the previous day. It seems Dalton experienced a typical autumn day, with a wet start giving way to a clearer, cooler finish.
