Break From the Excessive Heat Continues As We Prepare to Jump Into Meteorological Fall

Pleasant Moving Forward:

Yesterday featured a lovely break from the high heat and humidity. While it felt warm during the afternoon with highs topping out in the mid-to-upper 80s, the humidity thankfully remained low and comfortable. Monday's lovely weather continued into last night, with temperatures falling into the upper 50s-and-low 60s. Overall, a great opportunity to turn off your air conditioner and open up those windows. Fortunately for us, this break from the excessive summer heat is a lengthy one, sticking around not only for the rest of the work week, but also into Labor Day Weekend.

Cloud cover will be more present today, thanks to a weak disturbance sliding to our west and southwest. While a spotty shower may be possible for areas closer to the Quad Cities and Galena, our Tuesday looks to stay mainly dry with afternoon highs topping out in the low 80s. If you plan to head to Food Truck Tuesday over at Sinnissippi Park this afternoon and evening, the weather remains quiet and pleasant. Cloud cover will make a quick exit near or after sunset, allowing a process called radiational cooling to take place overnight. To make a long story short, radiational cooling is dependent on the amount of cloud cover and the strength of our surface winds during the overnight hours.

Cooler Nights Ahead: 

When you have generally clear skies and very light surface winds, this allows the radiation that was absorbed by the surface during the day to escape back into space, resulting in a fast drop in our temperatures. When you have a decent amount of cloud cover, it acts as a blanket, preventing the absorbed radiation from escaping back into the atmosphere. But with skies clearing up early, this will allow temperatures to rapidly fall. Overnight lows look to fall into the upper 50s tonight, and then the low 50s Wednesday night. 

Meteorological Fall:

This cooler, less humid weather pattern couldn't have come at a better time. Why you ask? Because September 1st marks the end of Meteorological Summer and the beginning of Meteorological Fall. Throughout the next three months, we encounter the biggest temperature drop when it comes to our average highs and low. More specifically when it comes to our average highs, which drop from the mid-70s on September 1st to the upper-40s by the end of November. I don't know about you, but I think summer has stayed long enough. I'm more than ready for what fall has to bring.

Clouds return Tuesday as showers pass to the southwest

 

A quieter pattern lies ahead as high pressure, both at the surface and aloft, remains in control across the Great Lakes and Midwest.  This will help keep winds from the east and northeast, while holding dew point temperatures in the 50s and afternoon high temperatures in the low 80s.

 Skies are mostly clear Monday evening but an approaching upper level disturbance from the west will quickly move through Iowa and into west-central Illinois by Tuesday morning.  Ongoing showers and thunderstorms from the disturbance will also move across Iowa but should take on a more southeast track, following the higher instability into central Illinois by morning.  While an isolated shower or storm can't be ruled out during the afternoon Tuesday, it does appear that the highest chance for any precipitation will remain to the west and southwest (at least the highest risk for thunderstorm activity).

Cloud cover increases during the day which will have a little bit of an impact on our temperatures for the afternoon.  Highs still look to rise into the low 80s, however.  High pressure will then move back in Tuesday night, sticking around through Thursday.  This will leave us with sun-filled skies for the afternoon with highs in the low 80s and overnight lows dipping into the 50s.  Wednesday night/Thursday morning appears to be the coolest with overnight lows in the low 50s area wide.

Much More Pleasant Week Ahead, Rain Chances Remain Slim

Relief Has Arrived:

When it comes to breaks from the excessive heat, it's been a long time since the area has experienced one. But with a cold front sliding through overnight, I am happy to say that the relief we've been waiting for has FINALLY arrived. The effects of last night's frontal passage is already being felt early this morning, as temperatures are running 10° to 15° cooler compared to 24 hours ago. Thankfully, this break from the heat isn't going to be one that is short-lived. As high pressure settles in, the cooler, less humid weather sticks around for much of the work week.

Pleasant Week Ahead:

High pressure over the Great Lakes will keep the weather in check through Thursday. Under mixed sunshine, temperatures remain seasonable with afternoon highs in the low-to-mid 80s and overnight lows in the upper 50s-to-low 60s. You know those air-conditioners that have been working hard to keep us cool the last week or so? Be sure to turn the dial from "on" to "vacation mode". It'll be a nice stretch of weather to turn off your air conditions and open up those windows, especially during the overnight hours. 

Ida's Remnants Stay Away:

Briefly touching up on Ida, Ida's remnants looks to dodge the Stateline entirely, tracking through the Tennessee Valley, and then eventually making her way into the northeast by Wednesday night. Aside from a slight chance on Tuesday, dry conditions will likely stick around until we get towards the end of the week. We do have another slight chance slated for Friday as a warm front slides through the region, but it looks like our best chance for rain may end up during the day on Saturday. The reason why I say "may" is because models this morning were in disagreement with the timing, and the longevity of these rain chances. Something we'll keep an eye on over the next few days.

Hurricane Ida makes landfall Sunday morning; Powerful winds and storm surge impact the Gulf Coast

Hurricane Ida made landfall shortly before Noon Sunday near Port Fourchon, LA as a powerful Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph.  It remained a Category 4 hurricane for several hours after making landful due to very swampy and marsh covered land in southeast Louisiana.

As of 7:30pm Sunday the hurricane has moved a little further inland and is now a strong Category 3 hurricane with maximum winds of 120 mph.  The center of the storm remained west of New Orleans, however, the outer eyewall moved through the western part of town producing wind gusts close to 100 mph, causing the entire city to lose power due to 'catastrophic' damage to their transmission system.  The only power the city has is what is coming from generators.

It's current track is to the north/northwest around 10 mph.  The storm will continue to weaken as it moves through southeast Louisiana, eventually down to a Category 1 hurricane very early Sunday morning as it nears the Mississippi/Louisiana border.  Even further weakening will continue as it moves towards Tennessee and Kentucky.  While the threat from the extremely strong winds won't be felt that far north, heavy rainfall will be a concern in those areas - as is often the case with tropical systems that move inland. Keep in mind that parts of middle Tennessee are still recovering from massive flooding - west of Nashville - from just last weekend.

Hurricane Ida comes 16 years after Hurricane Katrina made landfall in southeast Louisiana in 2005.  A levee breech on Lake Pontchartrain heightened the loss of life and damage to property in New Orleans as nearly 80% of the town was under flood water on August 31st.  So far the levee system in New Orleans is still holding, but there is some concern that barges that have broken free on the Mississippi River may impact those levees. 

 

Remaining Hot for National Dog Day, Thunderstorm Chances Returning Overnight

Dog Days of Summer:

Summer has shown no signs of slowing down as not only have we had two straight days in the 90s, but the humidity has been quite oppressive. Thankfully, the Stateline dodged severe weather chances Wednesday as the focus was more to the south as an M.C.V, or a Mesoscale Convective Vortex, spiraled into west-central and central Illinois. Even though we were able to avoid thunderstorm chances yesterday, a slow-moving frontal boundary approaching the Stateline from the north-northwest will increase our chances, especially late in the day. 

National Dog Day:

First off, happy National Dog Day to all of our furry friends out there. For those who walk their pups before heading into work, conditions are quiet under a partly cloudy to mostly clear sky. But that, along with light winds and an abundance of low-lying moisture may allow for fog to develop. Similar to Wednesday morning, it doesn't look like it will be dense enough for extra caution to be needed. Any fog that develops should give way to mixed sunshine, with the weather remaining dry into the afternoon. 

Pet Safety:

Winds ahead of this frontal boundary will be out of the southeast, allowing temperatures to top out on either side of the 90-degree mark this afternoon. Dew points look to stay in the low 90s, pushing heat index values into the mid to upper 90s. Putting the extra steps in your daily routine is going to be key to keep you safe from the heat. It'll also be important to pass that along to your pets. After mid-day, make sure their walks are short, and off of hot surfaces such as the pavement. With highs around 90 today, remember that pavement temps can be around 150 in direct sunlight.

Storm Chances Overnight:

An isolated thunderstorm will be possible late in the day. However, our best chances arrive overnight into Friday morning. As of this morning, most of the Stateline has been placed in a Marginal Risk, level 1 of 5 for severe weather by the Storm Prediction Center. Areas to the west, including those in Jo Daviess, Carroll, and Whiteside counties, have been placed under a Slight Risk, level 2 of 5. Areas to the west will be most favored due to the earlier arrival of the storms. Gusty winds will be our primary severe weather threat. Even if severe weather does not materialize here, extremely heavy rainfall will be possible area-wide.

Hot & Humid Wednesday, Daily Thunderstorm Chances Continue

Noisy Tuesday:

The later half of our Tuesday was quite noisy thanks to a round of severe thunderstorms pushing through the Stateline. As this line of thunderstorms tracked eastward, it prompted numerous severe thunderstorm warnings, mainly for wind. 

As of this morning, most if not all of the reports from across the area were either for wind damage or for damaging straight-line winds. The only tornado warnings that were issued were for a few isolated supercells in southwest Wisconsin that developed ahead of the main line early in the afternoon. With that being said, no tornadoes have been reported or confirmed at the moment. Unfortunately, heat safety and being weather aware will be a big part of of our daily routine today as not only does this humid weather continue, but so do our thunderstorm chances. 

Wednesday's Storms:

As I said on multiple occasions Tuesday, models have had a difficult time honing in on our rain chances as of recent, and that continues today's chances. First, we'll have to see how the morning convection out to our west-southwest evolves throughout the early morning hours. If they manage to sustain themselves, we'll see chances for a few showers and thunderstorms increase after sunrise. If they fall apart before making it to the Stateline, the atmosphere will have a better opportunity to recover for the afternoon threat.

Once we get rid of this morning's chances by the mid-day hours, expect mixed sunshine to take hold, sending temperatures back into the 90s. With plenty of moisture sticking around, dew points will sit in the low 70s, allowing heat index values to soar back into the upper 90s. This will further help the atmosphere recover, setting the stage for another round of afternoon and evening storms. 

As of this morning, the Storm Prediction Center has placed the entire region under a Marginal Risk for severe weather, with gusty winds being the biggest concern. Again, all depends on how this morning's round of thunderstorms evolves. Thunderstorm chances will be isolated in nature, and should carry on into the early hours of tonight. Otherwise, temperatures will look to slowly drop towards the 70-degree mark by tomorrow morning, making for another unseasonably mild start.

Cont'd Hot & Humid:

Despite the warmer start, a sneaky cold front sliding through early Thursday will make for slightly cooler afternoon highs. With winds being out of the east-northeast, temperatures will top out a few degrees shy of the 90-degree mark. However, those 90s will be quick to make a return by the weekend as that same frontal boundary lifts northward as a warm front. 

This will place us under the "warm sector" of the low-pressure system. Long story short, prepare for a hot & very humid weekend. It seems that relief from this heat and humidity holds off until early next week as another cold front slides through late Sunday night into Monday morning. So, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. At this moment however, it feels so far away. 

Heat Advisory Issues For Some, Summer Not Letting Up the Slightest

Unseasonably Mild Morning:

Cloud cover from Monday morning's round of thunderstorms prevented our afternoon highs from even coming close to the 90-degree mark. Still, with dew points in the low to mid 70s, heat index values had no issues getting close or even eclipsing the 100 degrees. 

With the radar remaining quiet overnight, temperatures slowly fell into the low 70s. When you compare that to the temperatures we had just 24 hours ago, that's a good 5° to 15° warmer. Unfortunately, this warmer start just tells the tale for the rest of our Tuesday as this hot & humid stretch continues.

Heat Advisory:

The excessive isn't just being felt here at home. Areas from southeastern South Dakota to the Gulf Coast are under some sort of heat alert this morning. This does include a Heat Advisory for Carroll and Whiteside counties, which will be in effect from 1PM to 8PM. Similar to Monday, the one thing we'll have to keep an eye on is a thunderstorm complex that is currently tracking through Minnesota.

Models really haven't had a good grip on the track of this system, but it will be in a weakening phase on it's approach. Any chances that we see move in early in the day will have a big impact on the way our temperatures and dew points climb into the afternoon. With that being said, we should top out close to the 90-degree mark in most spots. 

But combining that with dew points in the low to mid 70s, heat index values cloud once again sit near or even exceed above the 100-degrees. Guidance does show another chance for a few showers and thunderstorms, especially after mid-day with chances lasting into the evening commute. Though the chances of storms becoming severe are quite low this afternoon, hail and gusty winds will be the biggest concerns with any thunderstorm that does show any severe characteristics.

Summer Not Letting Up:

With a strong dome of high pressure to our south, this very summer-like pattern looks to remain in place for the rest of the work week. We'll feel the worst of the humidity today, but conditions look to stay hot and humid moving forward. Another cluster of showers and storms may attempt to move in overnight into early Wednesday. Clouds cover may be a bit more expansive, leading to slightly cooler daily high temperatures. When we say cooler, we mean on either side of the 90-degree mark. Heat index values just short of 100-degrees, but still high enough to make it feel uncomfortable. With the continuation of this summer-like pattern, an isolated afternoon storm or two cannot be entirely ruled out. 

Heat & Humidity Remains Stubborn, Sticks Around All Week

Back to Reality:

Sunday's featured a really nice break from the grueling heat and humidity, as high temperatures topped out in the low 80s. Unfortunately, I am sad to say that this break is very short lived. Summer returns in a big way for the upcoming work week, with the potential for multiple 90-degree days. 

 

Hot & Humid Once Again:

Today begins with the potential for patchy dense fog, along with the chance for an isolated thunderstorm or two. A line of non-severe storms that are located in northeast Iowa and southwest Wisconsin early Sunday morning will continue their easterly journey, approaching the Stateline near or shortly after sunrise. 

Guidance does show this line of showers and non-severe thunderstorms weakening as they inch closer to the Stateline. But whether they weaken or sustain themselves, we'll more than likely will have to keep an eye on them for the morning commute. What's left of this line will be passing through between 6AM-10AM, leaving us with mixed sunshine into the afternoon.

Thanks to a strong dome of high pressure, the excessive heat has been trapped across the central and southern plains. But with winds being more out of the south today, this will allow some of that hot and humid air to trek northward, filtering into the region during the later half of our Monday. 

The humidity won't be too terrible today, but that won't be the case Tuesday and Wednesday. Highs for the foreseeable future will land on either side of the 90-degree mark, with the worst of the humidity being felt Tuesday and Wednesday. With dew points sitting in the low to mid 70s, heat indices will have no issues climbing to or above the triple digit mark. Although models do bring a cold front through the region during the day on Thursday, not much relief filters in behind it.

Heat Sticks Around:

Temperatures remain in the upper 80s and low 90s both Thursday and Friday afternoon, with more heat to follow. This cold front is then scheduled to lift back northward as a warm front, placing us under the warm sector by Saturday morning. Highs look to remain near the 90-degree mark over the weekend, with the potential for heat indices once again to inch closer to the 100-degree mark. 

Drought conditions continue for the Stateline

 

Moderate drought conditions have expanded a little further south and now cover a good portion of Ogle and Lee counties, as well as extending further west into northwest Illinois.  The severe drought conditions over far northeast Illinois have improved slightly.

 Much of southern Wisconsin remains under moderate drought, with far southeast Wisconsin still considered in severe drought conditions.  The northwest portion of the state has now been placed in the abnormally dry category as quite a bit of central Wisconsin has received rainfall over the last couple of weeks, bypassing the northwest and south portions of the state.

The last significant rain to be recorded at the Rockford Airport was back on the 9th of August when over two inches of rain fell.  That was also the day when over half a dozen tornadoes touched down in northern Illinois during the afternoon and evening.  Since that day, the rain has been really hit or miss for many across the area.  There has been a few spots in the area that have had some decent downpours within the last week, but those have been very isolated leaving much of the Stateline dry.

 

The dry conditions will continue Sunday night but there may be a few light showers moving through Monday morning. Active thunderstorms are then possible over the next few days, some of which could bring some heavier rainfall, across the Midwest and Great Lakes.  Whether or not those storms move over the area this week are yet to be seen.

Cold Front This Evening Sets The Stage for a Comfortable Sunday

Cooling Down Quick:

A cold front swinging in from the west has helped pop up a few light showers this evening. Thankfully, these have been spotty and brief in nature, and will more than likely come to an end around or shortly after sunset. 

Once this frontal boundary is through, conditions will dry out, resulting in a quick temperature drop overnight. Sunday begins on a cooler note, with most of our local airports falling into the upper 50s and low 60s. This cooler start to our Sunday will set the stage for a short-lived break from the heat and humidity before temps quickly climb again early next week.

Comfortable Sunday:

Sunday marks the final day of the Winnebago County Fair. Of the days the fair is running this year, Sunday in general looks like the best day weather-wise to go. Behind Saturday evening's frontal passage, an area of high pressure quickly settles in. This will keep the sunshine around for the end of the weekend. 

High temperatures drop into the mid 80s Sunday afternoon, which is just slightly above average for late-August. Along with the cool down comes a drop in humidity, with dew points in the mid to upper 50s. That, along with a light northeasterly wind, will help make it feel comfortable for any late-weekend plans, like the Winnebago County Fair. Gates open at noon and close at 6PM.

August's Full Moon: 

Sunday night looks to begin on a dry note, making for a great opportunity to view August's full moon. I'll be honest with you. I had no idea that the full moon for August was also known as the "Sturgeon" moon until earlier this afternoon. 

But if you're wondering why it is known as the "sturgeon" moon, it's because this is historically the time of year when sturgeon are fished from the Great Lakes. Forecast-wise, we start off the night with a few passing clouds. Guidance then shows a little more cloud cover moving in after midnight, which is in response to a cluster of showers and thunderstorms that approach the region from the west. That's why I think if you want to head outside and view the full moon, the earlier the better.

Few thunderstorms possible for Saturday; Heat index back near 100 degrees next week

 

Cloud cover will slowly increase through the night Friday as a cold front comes in from the west.  Ongoing thunderstorms moving into Minnesota and Iowa Friday night will continue to move east, but weaken as they near the Mississippi River.  This is the result of a ridge of high pressure located over southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois.  We could see a few showers and isolated thunderstorms around sunrise Saturday, through mid-morning, but a lot of the rain will be quickly fading.

As the cold front begins moving through the Stateline, an increase in showers and isolated thunderstorms will be possible early afternoon.  Skies will most likely have a bit more cloud cover during the day, limiting some of the instability for thunderstorms to really grow.  A few stronger storms may occur just east of the immediate area, more late afternoon and evening, as the cold front moves towards Lake Michigan.

Skies will begin to clear following the cold front Saturday evening with a much drier air mass moving in.  This will bring temperatures Saturday night down into the low 60s and pave the way for a very comfortable Sunday. 

The pattern, then, may turn a little more active next week as a strong ridge of high pressure builds across the south.  This will place the outer edge of the jet stream very close to the Midwest beginning

next Monday.  At the surface, a warm front will begin lifting through Illinois into Wisconsin Monday and Tuesday.  Thunderstorms will be possible as the front pulls through.  With the jet stream close by we may see several disturbances move through.  Each disturbance (mini low) that passes could help enhance the risk for thunderstorms, especially at night. 

However, if the storms move through during the

day then the chance for temperatures reaching the low 90s would be lowered.  If the storms move through during the night then afternoon high temperatures will warm well into the 90s with a heat index reaching, or surpassing, the triple digit mark.  This could last for several days next week. 

Foggy Friday Morning, Summer-Like Feel Sticks Around into the Weekend

Toasty Thursday:

For the 25th time this year, the Chicago-Rockford International Airport saw it's daily high temperature climb past the 90-degree mark. If you're keeping score, this put us 10 90-degree days over what we typically see on average for the entire year. Following another foggy start to the day, temperatures look to quickly climb into the afternoon, making for a hot and steamy end to the work week. 

Foggy AM Commute:

Dense fog has once again become a part of our morning routine. Only two counties in our forecast area, McHenry County in N. Illinois and Walworth County in S. Wisconsin, are under a Dense Fog Advisory until 8AM. But if you plan on heading out the door early this morning, plan on taking extra time for your travels. Dense fog will be patchy, meaning it will be dense in one area and not so dense in another. Once the sun really begins to warm things up, the dense fog will lift, leaving us with mixed sunshine.

Very Summer-Like Afternoon: 

 Really, the forecast today is very similar to the weather we had yesterday. The sunshine, along with a decent southeast wind, will make it feel hot and very humid by the afternoon, with highs in the low 90s. The heat and humidity may lead to a late-day shower or thunderstorm, especially to the east of I-39. Otherwise, today remains fairly dry. The thunderstorm threat today remains well to the west and northwest along a cold front. As that frontal boundary approaches, clouds will increase overnight, leading to a better chance for showers and thunderstorms into Saturday morning. 

Fair Forecast:

If you plan on going to the Winnebago County Fair this weekend, Saturday will be the more rainy of the two days. Early on in the day, thunderstorms will be capable of producing heavy rain and gusty winds. Once we actually get the cold front to pass through the Stateline, which should be early to mid afternoon, conditions look to quiet down, cool down, and become less humid for Sunday. The end of the weekend features a small break from the grueling heat and humidity, as highs top out in the mid 80s. With dew points in the mid to upper 50s, it's going to be very comfortable afternoon to head to the fair. All I have to say is take it all in. Because with southwest winds returning, the forecast will become hot and humid again starting Monday.

Foggy Start, Late-Summer Heat Showing No Signs of Slowing Down

Foggy Start Yet Again:

Once again, northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin is waking up to a round of patchy dense fog. The fog isn't dense enough for the issuance of a dense fog advisory. However, if you plan on traveling during the morning commute, it'll be important to give yourself a few extra minutes for travel. Fog should linger into the mid-morning hours, giving way to a mix of clouds and sunshine.

Hot & Humid Thursday:

Given that we won't have as much forcing to work with in the atmosphere, rain chances today will be slimmer than yesterday. But when you add the heat and humidity into the equation, it may be enough to pop-up an isolated afternoon sprinkle or shower. Otherwise, a good chunk of our Thursday remains dry, with highs close to the 90-degree mark. Skies look to clear some as we head into the overnight hours. The combination of that, along with very light surface winds, will allow another layer of fog to develop by sunrise Friday.

Weekend Preview:

Unfortunately, this late-summer heat isn't showing any signs of slowing down as we move forward into the upcoming weekend. Guidance shows a dry but hot end to the work week, as high temperatures will once again top out near 90°. With dew points sitting near the 70° mark, heat indices Friday afternoon are expected to climb into the low 90s. So, if you plan on attending Rockford's City Market, or the Winnebago County Fair, please make heat safety a big priority. 

Saturday's Chances:

Moisture will continue to increase into Friday night as a cold front approaches from the west-northwest. This will help bring a round of showers, isolated thunderstorms to the area overnight into Saturday morning. Over the last day or so, models have come into better agreement on the timing of Saturday's cold front, bringing it through late in the afternoon. Along with it comes perhaps our best chance for showers and storms. As of this morning, the threat for severe weather remains low. But we still have a good chunk of time for things to change, so make sure to stay up-to-date with the forecast.

Isolated showers Wednesday evening produced very localized heavy rainfall

 

Temperatures Wednesday were the warmest they've been all week, rising to 88 degrees in Rockford.  But the heat index for some pushed well into the 90s, especially to the south where dew point temperatures were the highest.

 A lake breeze moving inland through Chicago produced quite a few thunderstorms early Wednesday afternoon.  Locally, we had a few very isolated showers and thunderstorms develop along a weak surface trough (boundary) over northern Illinois.  Weak winds in the atmosphere did not allow those showers and storms to move, causing them to remain fairly stationary for a time during the late afternoon and evening.  Radar estimates north of Byron and Rockford, right around Loves Par, received anywhere from one to two inches.  Elsewhere it remained bone dry.

 Widely isolated showers will continue through the early overnight as the weak surface boundary remains in place.  This will also keep a little cloud cover around for some through the night.  Where the skies are clear fog is likely to develop by early Thursday morning.  Temperatures Wednesday night will fall into the mid 60s.  Isolated showers and thunderstorms are possible once again Thursday, but some of the forcing that was present on Wednesday will be much lighter for Thursday afternoon. Highs on Thursday will warm near 90 degrees.

Patchy Morning Fog, Hot & Humid Stretch Begins Today

Morning Fog:

With a little more moisture and calm winds overnight, the Stateline is waking up to another round of patchy dense fog this morning. Visibility, especially in low-lying areas and river valleys, could drop to a quarter mile or less into mid-morning. If you plan on heading out the door early, I'd give yourself a few extra minutes for travel just to be on the safe side. 

Once the fog is out of the equation, mixed sunshine and a light southeast wind will make for a hot and humid afternoon across the region. Highs look to top out in the mid to upper 80s, with heat indices approaching the 90-degree mark. Tagging along with the heat and humidity comes a chance for us to see some rain.

Afternoon Rain Chances: 

A weak disturbance tracking on through the region this afternoon will bring enough lift with it to pop-up a few showers and thunderstorms. Now, chances will be best between 1PM-8PM, and will be isolated in nature. 

When we say "isolated", that means not everyone will see rain during the later half of the day. Thankfully, severe weather is NOT expected. But some of the stronger thunderstorms will be capable of producing heavy downpours and strong winds. Once rain chances come to an end by sunset, skies will remain partly cloudy overnight, with another round of patchy dense fog developing before sunrise Thursday morning. Again, you may want to give yourself a few extra minutes for travel.

Hot & Humid Pattern:

Ahead of an approaching cold front, dew points across the region will remain near the 70-degree mark for the rest of the work week. Yes, this means another stretch of hot and humid weather lies ahead for northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. 

Our daily high temperatures will climb a few more degrees Thursday and Friday, topping out near the 90-degree mark. Heat indices will also land in the low 90s, with the worst of the humidity being felt Friday afternoon. Similar to today, the rest of the work week features an isolated chance for a few afternoon showers and thunderstorms. However, the best chance over the next 7 days will be with the cold front on Saturday as it passes though the Stateline.