Temperature swings continue as our weather pattern turns a bit more active

Wednesday felt a bit different as thick cloud cover, on and off showers, and a cool northeasterly wind left afternoon highs in the low 60s. 

Rockford barely made it to the 60° mark, which was the coolest temperature we've seen since May 21st when the airport reached 52°. As we progress through the second half of October, temperatures swings will continue as fall fronts pass through. Today will be a tad bit warmer than yesterday as we see peeks of sun as well as a southeasterly wind.   

We will really feel a difference in temperatures Friday as winds increase behind a lifting warm front. South to southwest winds could be as high as up to 25 mph, pushing temperatures into the upper 70s. 

As the parent low lifts into Canada, a secondary low will progress across the country's midsection. With it will be our next cold front. 

Forecast models continue to show a slower eastward progression of said cold front, leaving surface winds out of the southwest for Saturday. This will give us one more day in the 70s before winds become rather gusty out of the northwest, placing high temperatures in the low 60s for Sunday. 

Richer moisture will be tugged north ahead of the incoming front which will lead to showers and a few storms late Friday night into Saturday.  

Severe weather potential is rather low and greater in areas well south of the Stateline. In their latest round of severe outlooks, the Storm Prediction Center has placed a level 2, Slight Risk from extreme southern Illinois to northern Louisiana.