Lake Forest, Illinois Weather
Lake Forest, Illinois — live current conditions, hourly and 7-day forecasts, NWS alerts, aviation weather, radar and satellite imagery, soil and crop conditions for Lake Forest, Lake County.
Flight conditions near Lake Forest. Data source: locating…
Soil conditions, frost risk and crop weather for Lake Forest.
About Lake Forest, Illinois
Lake Forest unfolds as a sculpted embrace of verdant bluffs and the shimmering expanse of a great lake. It lies 4.6 miles south of North Chicago, IL (from North Chicago, IL: bearing 180°T), and is situated 7.3 miles south of Waukegan. Rolling terrain, softened by centuries of wind and water, guides the eye through a landscape where mature oak and maple trees stand as silent sentinels, their branches interlacing to create a dappled canopy. The air here carries the crisp, clean scent of pine needles and damp earth, a fragrance that deepens with the approach of evening, when the sun dips low, casting long, ethereal shadows that lend a touch of melancholy beauty to the winding lanes and well-tended estates. The very character of Lake Forest is one of understated elegance, a place where nature’s grand design is met with a thoughtful human hand, creating a harmonious blend of wildness and cultivated grace that whispers of quiet contentment. This community, long a haven for discerning residents, draws its distinctiveness from a rich heritage of thoughtful planning and a commitment to preserving its natural splendor. Originally conceived as an idyllic retreat, Lake Forest’s development was guided by visionary architects and landscape designers who sought to integrate grand homes with the striking topography of the lakefront. The local economy, while evolving, retains echoes of its past, with a strong emphasis on professional services and a sophisticated retail environment that caters to a refined clientele. A notable feature is the presence of significant cultural institutions and educational facilities, fostering an environment of intellectual curiosity and artistic appreciation that permeates the daily life of Lake Forest, contributing to its enduring allure.
Live animated radar for Lake Forest and surroundings — RainViewer.
NOAA GOES-16 GEOCOLOR — live animated loop updated every 10 minutes. Shows cloud cover, storm systems and weather patterns across the continental US.
Source: NOAA/NESDIS GOES-East · Public domain · Auto-updates on page reload
| Location | Lake Forest, Lake County, Illinois |
| Coordinates | 42.258634°N, 87.840625°W |
| Timezone | Central Time (America/Chicago) |
| ZIP Code(s) | 60045 |
| Area Code | 312, 773 |
| Page generated | July 2026 |
| Weather data | Open-Meteo (open-source), NOAA National Weather Service |
About This Lake Forest, Illinois Weather Page
This page provides live weather conditions and forecasts for Lake Forest, Illinois, including current conditions, a 24-hour hourly forecast, 7-day outlook, NWS extended text forecast, real-time aviation weather (live METAR and TAF reports from the nearest reporting airport, with a modeled estimate shown when no station is in range), precipitation radar and NOAA GOES-16 satellite imagery. Additional sections may include tide predictions, wave height, wave direction and sea-surface temperature, a barometric pressure trend, and a solunar-based fishing forecast with a fishing-conditions rating for coastal localities, and soil temperature, crop weather and live USGS river gauge data for agricultural areas near a monitored waterway. All data updates automatically on every page visit.
Location data for Lake Forest includes coordinates 42.258634°N, 87.840625°W, situated in Lake County. ZIP code 60045. Telephone area code: 312, 773. Timezone: Central Time (America/Chicago).
Weather data is sourced from the NOAA National Weather Service (NWS) and the open-source Open-Meteo API. Aviation data is sourced from aviationweather.gov (NOAA), with a modeled estimate used where no nearby reporting station is available. River and stream data is sourced from the USGS National Water Information System. Tide predictions are sourced from NOAA CO-OPS; marine and solunar data are modeled from Open-Meteo and public sunrise/moon calculations and should be treated as a general guide alongside on-the-water conditions. Radar is provided by RainViewer. Satellite imagery is sourced from NOAA/NESDIS GOES-East and is public domain.
