Flood Threat Monday Evening and Tuesday

A Flood Watch has been issued for most of northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin beginning Monday evening and lasting through Tuesday evening.  Heavy rainfall combined with rapid snow melt, along with a frozen ground could cause a rapid rise on some of the smaller rivers, creeks and streams.  Low lying areas that are also prone to flooding should be on the lookout as well.

South winds Sunday evening will remain gusty, but hold temperatures in the mid 30's overnight.  As a warm front slowly begins to approach from the south, rain showers will begin to develop over parts of southeast Iowa and west-central Illinois after Midnight, becoming a little more widespread after 3am.  Most of this activity should remain should of the immediate area but there could be some drizzle or light showers that move in south of Rockford prior to sunrise Monday.

As moisture continues to get pulled in from the south, fog will become a concern and could become dense through Monday morning.  Rain showers will then become more widespread through the morning Monday and into the afternoon with the arrival of the warm front.  You may even hear a few rumbles of thunder.

Temperatures will warm into the 40's during the afternoon, reaching close to 50 degrees late in the day.  Periods of heavy rain will occur through Monday evening, and then again during the first half of Tuesday before a cold front passes Tuesday evening.

Rainfall amounts between one and two inches will be very common over northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin, with higher amounts to the southeast. 


The current frost depth over northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin is anywhere between six and twelve inches (a little deeper north of Janesville).  This won't allow much opportunity for any rain that does fall, or snow that melts, to soak into the ground.

 

Further north travel could become very dangerous with ice accumulations likely over parts of central Wisconsin.  An Ice Storm Warning has been issued for a handful of counties north of Madison, while Winter Storm Watches and Winter Weather Advisories have been issued further to the north and northwest.