Cold front passes, but not a lot of cold air coming behind

A weak cool front will move through southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois between 10am and 1pm today.  As it does, a few scattered showers will be possible right along the front but totals don't look too impressive.  Rainfall amounts will range from a few hundredths of an inch up to a quarter inch, at most.  Further south of Rockford, a rumble of thunder or two may be heard as a little more instability builds during the day.

Typically after a cold front passes, the temperatures cool off behind.  While that will be the case tonight, Friday is looking like another stellar day!  Afternoon highs will rise back into the middle 60's under partly cloudy skies.  But, a cold front is coming so how is this possible?  The system that will pull the front through later today originated from the Pacific, not the Arctic.  Because of that, it has a milder air mass behind it.  Plus, upper level winds will be more from the west versus northwest limiting the amount of cold air spilling into the Great Lakes.  The 60's will persist through the beginning of the weekend, but a stronger cold front Saturday night will not only bring thunderstorms but also a cool down for the beginning of next week.  More on the weekend system coming up in later posts.  Stay tuned!