Record high Thursday afternoon

 Sunshine Thursday afternoon warmed temperatures into the mid-50s, with Rockford's high reaching 55 degrees. That warmth broke the record high temperature for February 1st for Rockford. The previous record was 48 degrees set back in 1922 and 1968.

The average high temperature for the beginning of February is 30 degrees, so temperatures Thursday were 20-25 degrees ABOVE average. It felt more like

early April, rather than early February. The above average trend will continue for the next several days, with possibly a couple more 50 degrees days by the end of next week. However, that does look to come with a chance for some rain showers, and perhaps a rumble of thunder or two heading into next weekend.