Active weather returns to northern Illinois late this week

With zonal flow in place across the lower 48, we saw a system track in overnight. This brought a better shot for a wintry mix to the north, leaving us with a chance for drizzle and patchy dense fog. 

As of 4:30AM, visibility values are at their lowest up in southern and southeastern Wisconsin. Travel with caution if you wind up in lower visibility. 

  

Similar to yesterday, the rest of the day will be spent under a mostly cloudy sky. Temperatures, they remain mild landing in the low 40s. Normally around the January 6th time frame, Rockford's average high is sitting around the 30° mark. Even warmer times are ahead starting tomorrow as winds will take a turn to the south and southwest. This will land highs closer to the 50° mark Wednesday and Thursday. Of the two days, Wednesday will be a bit more enjoyable as conditions remain dry with cloud cover giving way to partial afternoon sunshine. 

Thursday starts on a dry note, though cloud cover will increase quickly as system #1 of 2 approaches from the southern plains. Plenty of moisture will build out ahead of the incoming low, resulting in precipitation chances by the late-afternoon Thursday. Temperatures will be warm enough to where the main precipitation with this system will fall steadily as rain. Chances will likely carry on into Thursday night and may even linger into the first half of Friday.   

Behind the departing low, dry conditions settle in for Friday afternoon as we wait for system #2. As we mentioned in yesterday's morning update, changes with the forecast for system #2 are likely as we're still a few days out. What has changed? Forecast models this morning came in weaker with the surface low and shifted the overall track to the southeast. 

This would favor a rain/snow mix late Friday into the early stages of Saturday morning, with a transition to snow on the table once cold air wraps around the low. Snow showers could very well carry on into the early-afternoon hours. With that being said, nothing is set in stone just yet so tune in to Eyewitness News as well as keep tabs on the First Warn Weather App for updates! Once system #2 departs, the cold air that spills in behind it will make for a cold end to the weekend, leaving highs in the upper 20s and low 30s.