Monday morning weather update

Noon Update: The shower activity from this morning has passed leaving mostly cloudy skies in its wake.  The cool front remains in central Iowa late this morning with a couple upper level disturbances rotating around the main upper low in southern Canada.  Depsite the current cloud cover there has been an increase in instability across the area with temperatures rising in the upper 70s and dew points in the mid and upper 60s.  Towering cumulus clouds have been building across northeast Illinois since mid-morning and this is likely where the greatest potential for afternoon storm development will reside.  However, looking a little further to the west and there have been a few cumulus trying to grow in northeast Iowa.  While model guidance suggests the storm activity will stay east we'll have to watch just how far the clouds in eastern Iowa grow in height.  It's possible that there may be development further west as the front moves through.  Should storms develop across the area later today there could be a few gusty winds as well as hail with the stronger storms.

7:10 am Update:  A weakening line of thunderstorms will continue across northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin this morning.  Some of the heavier showers could produce up to a quarter to half an inch of rain.

A broken line of thunderstorms will continue to move across southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois this morning.  Earlier there were a few stronger embedded storms within in this line back in Iowa, but the storms will continue to weaken as they move east.  Severe weather is not anticipated this morning, but there could be a brief heavy downpour with a few of the stronger cells. 

The cold front will pass this evening with high pressure moving in tonight.  If you do get any rain this morning consider yourself luck because it looks like the next chance for rain won't be again until the end of this weekend.