Warm and Windy Monday Afternoon

High temperatures Monday afternoon warmed to 55 degrees in Rockford, the warmest since October 26th.

This time of year warm temperatures and gusty winds go hand and hand.  In order for highs to warm well above average, there needs to be a strong wind to bring that warmth this far north.


High pressure that was settled over the Midwest Sunday moved into the southeast, while low pressure moved through the High Plains and Upper Midwest Monday afternoon.


Wind is caused by a difference in pressure between high and low pressure.  Usually the bigger the difference is between the two, the stronger the wind will be.  Wind around low pressure flows counter-clockwise and wind around high pressure flows clockwise.  This placed most of the Midwest and Great Lakes within the warm southerly flow Monday afternoon.


Both systems will move to the east, allowing a cold front to pass early Tuesday morning.  High pressure will then move in from the north (Canada) Tuesday afternoon.  Winds will increase once again, but this time from the north.  This will push afternoon temperatures down into the 30's with wind chills down into the low 20's.