With the past two weeks feeling like a roller coaster in terms of weather from severe to even snow, as we head into April the first few weeks look to give us seasonable conditions.
Today although we won't be completely calm, some showers will be possible this afternoon as well as into the night where we may receive a few rounds of light showers. Accumulation totals with today's precipitation is expected to stay under a quarter of an inch though as showers will be light and scattered throughout the region.Cloudy skies will stick around all day today, but our shower chances increase as we head into the early evening tonight. A low-pressure system will track to our southeast today keeping the best moisture near it leaving us a little bit drier in the atmosphere and thus decreasing our intensity and coverage of showers. Still though, some areas across the state line may see a few instances of rain from these showers.Chances become a little bit higher tonight as the low-pressure system tracks a bit closer giving us a little bit more moisture into the overnight hours. Still though, the highest chances for widespread rainfall will stay to our southeast. Moisture will be a little better into the night though so the chances for a few showers will last through the overnight hours.The system lasting overnight tonight will last until tomorrow morning so the chance for an isolated morning shower is still possible. After that though, temperatures will remain seasonable as we head into the weekend with us drying out a bit as well.Moving into the early week though temperatures look to briefly drop as a low-pressure system from Canada will make its way south. This will transport cold air southward keeping us cooler for both Monday and Tuesday. The good news though is that 50's will return into later next week!Friday, April 4, 2025
Thursday, April 3, 2025
Seasonable with scattered rain showers Friday
After some widespread rain and thunderstorms moved through the Stateline Wednesday morning, we have remained primarily dry but cloudy into Thursday. Temperatures struggled to reach near 50° for most afternoon highs. We will remain dry overnight as temperatures drop back to the 30s. Scattered showers will make their return during the afternoon and evening on Friday.

Shower chances continue into the evening and nighttime hours of Friday, with a little bit higher coverage overnight. Any rainfall we do see will remain light and scattered in nature, while steady to heavy rain will remain focused well to the South and Southeast. Lingering rain showers will remain possible into Saturday morning, but most of the afternoon and evening will be dry.

With the light nature of these showers, rainfall totals will not amount to much around here. Many spots in the Stateline could see between a tenth and quarter inch of rainfall Friday into early Saturday.

This is nothing compared to the extensive heavy rainfall that will occur to the South. Many of the same areas that saw severe storms and heavy rainfall Wednesday and Wednesday night will see additional rounds of severe weather and torrential rain again through the weekend. Many along the Ohio River down into Arkansas could see upwards of five or more inches of rainfall over the next few days. A few spots especially in Northern and Central Arkansas could see eight inches of rain or more.

All of that rainfall will cause significant flash flooding concerns. The Weather Prediction Center has a "High Risk" outlook for flash flooding each of the next 3 days. Today's high risk runs from Southwestern Kentucky through Central Arkansas. The pink contour constitutes a 70% risk for flash flooding. The red contour indicates a 40% risk, while yellow is a 15% chance and green is a 5% risk.

Locally, we will not see any flooding concerns but gradually declining temperatures into the weekend will precede a strong cold front Monday morning. This front may produce a few light snow showers before things dry out into the second half of Monday. High temperatures Monday and Tuesday will only reach the low 40s.

Tranquil weather settles in following Wednesday's heavy rainfall
More clouds build into the region Friday as a weak low pressure system tracks to our south. With this cloud cover will be the chance for an isolated sprinkle or shower during the afternoon.The combination of the cloud cover, the small chance for rain, and the light breeze out of the east-northeast will leave high temperatures in the low 50s. This storm system will be slow to track east, leaving cloud cover and a small chance for a sprinkle or shower in place Friday night into the first few hours of Saturday.
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Wednesday afternoon storm update
9:30pm Update: The severe threat has ended for us this evening as a cold front approaches from the west. This will shift our winds from the south this evening to the west through the night, and then from the northwest Thursday afternoon. High temperatures will warm into the mid-50s under partly sunny skies.
These storms remain north of a warm front which currently stretches across central Illinois where temperatures are in the 70s, but in the 40s and 50s north of the front. The Storm Prediction Center has shifted the highest risk for severe storms this afternoon further southeast, with northern Illinois now under a 'marginal' risk - meaning more isolated severe potential.
Trends have been pointing in the downward direction with the severe threat locally, but we're not out of the woods just yet. Clearing skies out west of the Mississippi River in Iowa will allow for some instability to build throughout the afternoon, shifting east by mid-afternoon. This will likely allow for at least some storm activity to redevelop locally by mid to late afternoon.
Early morning update on today's severe potential across northern Illinois
Again, it will be very very important to have multiple ways to get watches and warnings. Not only this morning, but also during the afternoon hours in case we do see redevelopment.
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Latest on the severe potential Wednesday
We are about to settle into what could be an active weather pattern over the next 24-30 hours, so let's dive in:
Tuesday morning update on Wednesday's severe storm potential
Tuesday will be very similar to Monday, though we'll see the opposite in terms of cloud cover. Skies will cloud over following a sunny start to the day, leaving us mostly cloudy by the afternoon. Despite the cloud cover, an organized southeasterly wind will help bring afternoon highs back near the 50° mark.
Towards the beginning of the evening commute, a few sprinkles and light rain showers will develop as warmer air pushes into the region.
It's not out of the question that some of our locales, especially those along and north of the Illinois/Wisconsin border, may end up cold enough for a few flakes to mix in. Thankfully, accumulations and travel impacts are not expected. From there,
light rain showers will continue in a scattered fashion through the rest of the evening and into the early stages of Wednesday morning. In response to the incoming deepening low, winds will also increase during this time. Expect peak gusts to range from 25 to 30 mph this evening, then closer to 40 mph after midnight.
Wednesday Morning:
Isolated to scattered severe storms will be possible during the early morning hours Wednesday as the remnants of storms that develop late Tuesday evening over the Plains shift east-northeast.
These storms may still be strong enough to produce large hail up to 1" in diameter. Timing remains the same, with the main window starting up just before sunrise, with potential lingering into the late morning hours. Overnight, the Storm Prediction Center downgraded the Stateline from a level 2 of 5, Slight Risk to a level 1 of 5, Marginal Risk.Wednesday Afternoon:
A secondary round of strong to severe storms remains possible Wednesday afternoon, though it will all depends on what occurs Wednesday morning.
If the morning activity is slower to depart, it would likely limit our atmosphere from recharging. If, however, the storms are faster to move out and the cold front is slower to move in then our severe threat during the late afternoon and evening would increase with all hazards on the table.
Right now, it looks like the morning activity lingers into midday which again, if that were to happen would lower our severe potential for the afternoon. Then again, it doesn't take much solar radiation with these early-spring setups for the atmosphere to recharge. In their latest round of severe outlooks, the Storm Prediction Center has left most of northern Illinois under a level 3 of 5, Enhanced Risk. Storm chances drop Wednesday evening as the cold front pushes east, leaving us quiet and mild for Thursday.