Temperatures remain mild ahead of impactful late-week systems

Compared to the final weekend of 2025, this past weekend was much, much cooler. High temperatures at the Rockford Airport went from the low 40s and 50s to the upper 20s and low 30s, though there was some sunshine to enjoy Sunday. 

 

 

Fortunately, those walking out the door this morning are walking out to a mild start. Most Stateline locales are sitting in the low 30s prior to sunrise. This mild start will pave the way for a mild afternoon, allowing temperatures to peak around the 40 mark. 

This will happen under a mostly cloudy sky. A weak system pushing in overnight will bring the potential for patchy fog as well as drizzle. Temperatures will once again end up mild in the low 30s.  

Drizzle and shower chances will also be on the table for Tuesday in an isolated fashion. This may hinder our effectiveness to fully warm up. However, highs are still expected to reach the low 40s. 

Less cloud cover will be in place Wednesday. This should allow highs to climb well-above early-January standards, in the upper 40s. We can expect upper 40s to stick around into Thursday, though cloud cover will be on the increase late in the day.  

This is in response to the first of two lows that could bring impactful weather into the weekend. Now, as Meteorologist Jordan Wolfe mentioned in his forecast yesterday, we still have plenty of time between today and Friday for certain components of the forecast to change. It will be important to stay up-to-date with the forecast in the coming days. 

Right now, both global models bring in said low into north central Illinois Thursday evening. Given how warm temperatures will be during the Thursday evening and Thursday night time frame, precipitation should fall as mostly rain. Again, we'll keep an eye on things as the weekend approaches. It's what happens with the second low pressure system that will help determine how impactful the weather will be into the weekend. 

The track is very similar to the first low, though this one will have more cold air to work with. This would place the highest potential for accumulating snow somewhere across the western Great Lakes, focusing on areas to the north and west of Rockford. 

The slightest change in the low's track may change that to a rain/snow mix or entirely rain. Precipitation chances may stretch into Saturday as colder air wraps into the departing surface low, allowing for lingering scattered flurries and snow showers. Once the cold air is in place, afternoon highs will fall from the 40s to the 30s for Saturday, then possibly upper 20s Sunday. For now, know that nothing is set in stone and many uncertainties exist with our late-week precipitation chances. It would be best to keep an eye on the forecast.