Temps cool Wednesday following backdoor cold front

 

It's been an absolutely gorgeous Tuesday afternoon with sun-filled skies and temperatures warming into the mid-70s. A lake breeze moving in off Lake Michigan has produced a few more clouds over parts of Boone and McHenry counties, but those will fade as the sun sets with skies turning mostly clear overnight. Winds will also ease as temperatures drop on either side of 50 degrees overnight.

High pressure located across the Upper Plains and Midwest Tuesday will move north of the Great Lakes Wednesday. This will turn our surface winds to the north and northeast allowing a cool breeze to move down Lake Michigan Wednesday afternoon. This is known as a 'backdoor cold front'. The cool winds moving onshore from Lake Michigan will first cool locations right along the lake shore mid to late morning, pushing further inland through Noon.

Ahead of the front temperatures will warm back into the mid, possibly upper 70s, but will begin to fall as the front moves from east to west during the afternoon. Northeast winds will also increase as the front passes, gusting around 25-30 mph through the evening.

A few isolated showers can't completely be ruled out as moisture 'pools' right along the boundary late in the afternoon and evening. Areas that have the best chance for seeing a few isolated showers are likely those in parts of Carroll, Whiteside, southwest Ogle, and Lee counties. Whatever precipitation develops won't last as drier air moves in through the night. This will lead to dry, but cooler, weather Thursday as sunshine continues through Friday.