Heat and storm update for the afternoon and evening

12:45pm Update: The area will continue to be monitored for the possibility of a severe weather watch being issued later this afternoon.

The heat and humidity are really building across Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin.  Temperatures will continue to rise into the low to mid 90s with the heat index rising between 98° and 109°!  A Heat Advisory remains in place for Green, Rock and Walworth counties until 6pm in Southern Wisconsin and for Stephenson, Jo Daviess, Carroll, Whiteside, Winnebago, Ogle and Lee counties until 7pm in Northern Illinois.

An advancing cold front will move through the Stateline later this afternoon with scattered thunderstorms likely developing right along the front.  There have been a few showers trying to form near Appleton, WI late this morning but haven’t made much progress.  The front will be moving into a fairly unstable air mass and will likely generate enough lift within the atmosphere to produce a few scattered thunderstorms between 2pm and 4pm in Southern Wisconsin and possibly after 4pm in Northern Illinois.  The greatest lift, however, will stay north of the area reducing the threat for major severe storms. 

The Storm Prediction Center has upgraded the Stateline to a slight risk for severe storms and we’re going to keep our Weatherisk at a Moderate for the afternoon.  Thunderstorms producing strong winds near 60mph, hail and heavy downpours are possible through 7pm.

Here is a future radar image from the WSI RPM model for 4:30pm showing thunderstorm activity lighting up along the front from Racine WI southwest to Stockton, IL.  While it doesn't look like a widespread event, I do anticipate there to be some storms around by this afternoon.  Make sure you have a way to receive watches/warnings should they be issued later today.  We'll be sure to keep a watchful eye on the radars going into the afternoon and evening.  Meteorologist Brandon Arnold will have a complete weather update for you later this afternoon on the blog as well on the news at 5pm.

Video Forecast below: