Tuesday morning weather update

Last week's stretch of intense summer heat feels like a thing of the past with how comfortable it has been over the past couple of days. 

For the third straight day, afternoon temperatures at the Rockford Airport registered cooler than average in the upper 70s. With high pressure locked over the Great Lakes, we can expect a 4th straight day in the 70s before our next warm up commences.

If you're getting back into that daily routine, know that Tuesday will be no different. Fair-weather cumulus clouds will mix with sunshine throughout the day, leaving afternoon highs in the upper 70s. Skies turn mostly clear overnight, allowing radiational cooling to once again be more effective. This will leave temperatures pleasant and cool near the 50° mark by Wednesday's sunrise.

This slow warm up continues into Wednesday as this  high pressure system pushes further east. This will land our afternoon highs back into the low 80s. Along with this temperature climb does come an slight uptick in humidity levels. 

Not to worry, I’m happy to report that levels won't be even close to the highly oppressive levels that were felt early last week. The highest our dew points look to get is the low 60s and that's ahead of the cold front slated for Thursday. Speaking of that front, showers and possibly a thunderstorm or two will develop along and behind it as it sweeps through the western Great Lakes Thursday night into early Friday morning. Severe weather is unlikely. 

The bigger weather headline with our next frontal passage is the fall-like air that filters in behind it. Rapid cooling just above the surface will translate to surface temperatures in the low 70s Friday, then in the low 60s for Saturday afternoon. Overnight lows Friday night will land in the upper 40s, then closer to the 40° mark Saturday night. After a few lingering showers Friday, dry conditions quickly settle in for the remainder of the weekend.