Last day of summer stays cool and cloudy

Rainfall Check:

The soaking rains we've picked up the past week have helped make this one of the wettest Septembers on record for the Rockford area. As of this morning, the monthly rainfall total stands at 6.14", ranking this September as the 9th wettest through the first 20 days of the month. While it doesn't top the charts in that specific category, the bulk of that rainfall has fallen in just the last week. From September 14th to the 20th, Rockford picked up 5.83" of rain, meaning nearly all of this month's total has been observed during that 7-day stretch. Fortunately, the weather pattern settles down this week, with rain chances becoming much more isolated and less frequent compared to the rounds of rain and downpours we've recently seen here in the Stateline. 

Fall Begins Tuesday:

Cloud cover will likely hang tight for the final day of summer, and with plenty of low-level moisture still in place, drizzle or a few light showers can't be rule out at times. As a result, temperatures will remain cool, with highs landing in the low 60s. The breeze that we see out of the northeast throughout the day will also help limit our temperature climb. 

Tomorrow marks the official start of fall, as the fall equinox is scheduled to occur at 7:05PM CDT. During the fall equinox, the Earth's axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the sun. As a result, the sun shines directly over the equator, allowing nearly equal amount of daylight and darkness. Climatologically, September 22nd features an average high of 73 degrees and an average low of 51 degrees, serving as a reminder that cooler days and crisp autumn nights will become more common. 

For the first day of fall, afternoon highs will remain below average in the low 60s. The best chance for any rain will be before 9AM, with skies turning partly cloudy for the afternoon. High pressure from there should keep us dry into the middle and second half of the work week, though a slim chance for a sprinkle or shower remains for Wednesday.