It's Getting Dry, But it Look's Like Rain is on the Way....

What appeared to be almost certain event last night, failed to produce more that 0.01" of rain as the system moved through the Greater Rockford area.  Severe weather ocurred to the north, to the northwest, to the west, to the southwest, and to the east, and the front went through the Stateline with just a sprinkle.  It did heat up, though, and the airport reached 90 degrees again this afternoon. The front pushed across northern Illinois this afternoon. It will stall out over central Illinois tonight, and then become a factor in our weather for the rest of the week as is moves very slowly northward with disturbances moving along it from time to time. There will be a chance of showers and thunderstorms on Monday afternoon. Showers and storms will be likely on Monday night with locally heavy rain possible with a thunderstorm complex that will fire up over western Iowa in the supper hour, and then move eastward straddling the stationary front stretching across central Illinois just to the south of Interstate 80. The complex is expected to be large enough that it will reach as far north at the Wisconsin stateline covering most of northern Illinois. Showers and thunderstorms are expected to linger into the morning hours on Tuesday as the disturbance moves off to the east. The front will still be in place, and will serve as a focal point for episodic showers and thunderstorms for the rest of the week. It is difficult to time the events, but it appears as if chances of showers and thunderstorms will be most likely to start firing, and become more numerous in the afternoon and evening hours through Friday. The best chance of storms, though, will be later at night with nocturnal thunderstorm complexes associated with disturbances riding eastward out of the plains along the stationary front, and through the area in the overnight hours. Late in the week a cool front will push eastward out of the plains, and across the midwest ending the thunderstorm threat for the weekend as high pressure moves into northern Wisconsin by Sunday morning. As far as temperatures for the upcoming week are concerned, we can continue to expect above normal temps with highs in the middle to upper 80's from Wednesday through next Sunday. Lows at night will be in the upper 60's to around 70 degrees.
By Meteorologist
Eric Nefstead