Wild Swings Coming Up!

After the clipper system that caused some slippery spots on roads overnight, skies cleared, and with no snow cover and sunshine the afternoon temperature reached 47 degrees in Rockford.  The low temperature last night was 29 degrees, so the day averaged an amazing 16 degrees above normal.  Every day since December 11th has been above normal.

Another clipper system will move in from the west tonight. It could spread some light rain showers into northwestern Illinois by midnight, and with temperatures at or just below freezing, the precipitation may begin as freezing rain in north central Illinois, and some snow will mix in... especially north.  A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY has been issued for Rock and  Green coutnies in southern Wisconsin beginning at 2 am on Friday lasting until soon.  Accumulations of 1" or so could occur to the northwest of Rockford, and with temperatures right near freezing later tonight, roadways could become slushy, and very slippery.  The rain/snow mix is expected to continue into Friday morning.  With warmer temperatures in the afternoon, there could be some scattered rain showers.  High temperatures will be around 39 degrees on Friday.  Friday night will start off mostly cloudy, but clearing is expected, and temperatures will drop into the middle 20's.  A brisk southwesterly breeze will develop along with mostly sunny skies on Saturday ahead of the next clipper system pushing temperatures back up into the middle to upper 40's. There could be some light rain showers on New Year's eve, and some snow showers after midnight.  A strong Arctic cold front will blast across the Stateline before midnight.  The ovenight low on Saturday night will be in the low 30's, and temperatures will not go up much on Sunday.  It will be cloudy, and winds could gust from the northwest between 30-50 mph on Sunday.  It will be much colder with a high only in the low 30's.  Strong winds will continue overnight Sunday night, and with a temperature dropping into the mid to upper teen's, the wind chill will be near zero by 7 am on Monday morning.  The high temperature on Monday will only be in the low 20's with a brisk northwesterly wind continuing.  The ovenight low on Monday night will match the coldest temperature Rockford has had so far this winter which was 10 degrees on December the 10th.  Tuesday will be sunny and cold with a high of 24 degrees.   A warming trend will start on Wednesday with a high in the low 30's, and by Thursday it will be even warmer.