Saturday, March 12, 2016

Cooler Temperatures to Return

We have strung together quite an impressive stretch of mild temperatures of late here in the Stateline. In fact, we even saw 70's make a very early appearance. However, all good things must come to an end, right? That phrase will hold true regarding our warm temperatures. Sunday will be chilly near 50°, but upper 50's and 60's return Monday and Tuesday ahead of what will likely turn out to be a strong low pressure system. That low will develop to our west in the Upper Midwest and rapidly strengthen as it moves towards Wisconsin on Tuesday.

As it does so, it will swing a cold front through Illinois and Wisconsin Tuesday evening. Along this frontal boundary exists the chance for showers and thunderstorms. Models do disagree slightly regarding how much rain will develop along the front, and how far south the rain will go. As a result, it is not impossible that the rain stays mainly north of Rockford, but at this time it appears as though at least some rain and thunderstorms will affect the region Tuesday into Tuesday night. This means any voters who venture out during the afternoon and evening could be met with rain.

There are two other aspects to this system. First, winds will pick up significantly Tuesday and Wednesday as the low sits to our north and deepens. Secondly, as is true with most cold fronts, cooler air will filter in beginning on Wednesday as highs are expected to drop into the middle 50's.

Even colder temperatures arrive by St. Patrick's Day and beyond with highs likely remaining in the 40's and lows dropping into the 30's. While models are in pretty good agreement regarding the temperatures next week, they do show significant disagreement regarding precipitation. One of our long-range models suggests rain and even snow remaining in the forecast through Friday night. Meanwhile, the other long-range model takes that precipitation to our east by Wednesday morning. Therefore, a few light showers cannot be ruled out Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, but nothing significant looks likely at this time.

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