Great Weather for Last Minute Shopping and Mid West Holiday Travel

The mild weather that the Stateline has been enjoying in December looks like it will continue through the end of the year.  The average temperature so far this month is 33.6 degrees which is 6.4 degrees above normal.  Needless to say there isn't any frost in the ground or any ice on area rivers.  The frigid air in northern and central Canada does not show any indication of dropping southward into the mid west.  A weak cool front will pass though the area by mid day.  Early this morning there was a solid band of snow behind the front.  Parts of southern through east central Wisconsin received an inch or two of snow making roads slippery is spots.  As the band of snow moved east and southeast it completely dissipated.  Skies will remain cloudy to mostly cloudy for the rest of the day, and there could still be a  re-development of light snow or flurries.  Temperatures will remain fairly steady under the clouds, and Rockford's high temperature will be around 36 degrees.  Northern Illinois can expect decreasing clouds overnight, and it will be cooler with a low in the low 20's  as drier air moves in from the northern plains.  High pressure over the plains will take control of the weather on Friday, and it will be mostly sunny with a high around 34 degrees.  Although that may seem a little cool, it is still above average for December 23rd.  Temperatures will moderate under mostly sunny skies Saturday to around 38 degrees, and it will be warmer yet on Christmas day, with a high near 40 degrees.  Needless to say with temperatures that mild, and a dry pattern set up, there  is very little chance the Stateline will have a white Christmas this year.  A weak front will drop in from from the northwest on Christmas day, but will have no effect on the upward trend in temperatures, so that on Monday the high will be around 42 degrees.  It might even get a little warmer than that. The next front will drop temperatures a couple of degrees on Tuesday.