Soggy Week Ahead - Timing the Rain

'Gloomy' and 'soggy' would be perfect terms to sum up the weekend we had, with mostly cloudy skies and temperatures stuck in the low 50's Friday and low 60's Saturday and Sunday. We picked up about a half inch of rain on Saturday and as we go through this week and into the weekend, there is the potential for another inch to inch and a half possible for northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin.

Today, the best chance for will be later this afternoon, but there is a slight chance for a light shower in the late morning. Sunshine and an incoming low will help to generate a bit of instability this afternoon, which could fire up a few showers and storms this afternoon and evening. A few gusty storms will be possible mainly from Freeport and west, with a marginal risk for strong to severe storms. There could be gustier winds and small hail as cold air moves in aloft. Tonight and into tomorrow the low will sink south overhead and will keep the chance for rain for Tuesday and into Wednesday before the low moves east. It won't be a washout this week, with mainly intermittent shower chances through the middle of the week.

The pick day this week would be Thursday with high temperatures very close to 70° with mostly sunny skies. Rain chance increases Friday and into the weekend.