Fast Moving Systems... Above Average Temperatures

Strong low pressure is spinning just north of Minnesota in southern Canada.  It has been responsible for our brisk winds on Monday. A southern stream low pressure is centered over Mississippi, and it is moving toward the northeast.  The low is far enough away that the precipitation associated with it will just graze the southeastern part of north central Illinois. The northern low is trailing a cold front across northwestern Wisconsin and northwest Iowa. There are some sprinkley light rain showers associated with that front. So, as the front moves east toward northern Illinois this evening, there could be some sprinkles or light rain showers before midinight. It will remain mild overnight with a low around 33 degrees. Our average low this time of year is 15 degrees, and our average high is 30 degrees. Stateline weather this week will continue to be well above average. The zonal air flow out of the Pacific is responsible for our mild weather keeping any serious arctic air from northern Canada from reaching northern Illinois. The front to our northwest will move across the area before daybreak on Tuesday. It will be blustery and colder on Tuesday with a high around 38 degrees. There may be some flurries or snow flurries from noon through late afternoon. Winds could gust to 35 mph from the northwest. A Canadian cold front will move into our area by sunset on Tuesday, so it will be colder on Tuesday night with the temperature dropping to the low 20's. Wednesday will be relatively chilly in terms of what we have seen in recent days, with a high in the middle 30's. A series of Pacific systems will continue to parade across the area for the rest of the week. High temperatures will around 40 degrees or a little higher from Thursday through Sunday. There could be a little light rain and light snow mix from time to time from Wednesday night through Friday. New Year's Eve looks like it will be partly cloudy with temperatures holding above freezing for most of the night. That's not bad for this time of year!