Tuesday Morning Chills and Temperature Spread

It's been a cold start to the morning, but some were shivering a bit more depending on where you were in the Stateline. There is quite the temperature spread this morning, in the upper teens over Janesville, but in the low single digits near Sterling. Chills are also expansive this morning, they're above zero in Wisconsin, but at times Sterling's chill fell below -15°!

There's a reason for the spread in temperatures this morning, and it all has to do with the upper level low pressure system that's currently sitting along the Wisconsin stateline.

First though, arctic air is once again making it's appearance across the U.S, for now it's contained across the center of the country. It's prompted Wind Chill Advisories and Warnings across the Plains and into Iowa and even most of Illinois. Temperatures here are well below zero. Winds are increasing across the Mississippi River Valley and the Plains, due to the difference in pressure from the high and low pressure systems. This is called a pressure gradient. Cities that are positioned to the southwest of Rockford are further from the low allowing for stronger upper winds, and the stronger winds located there are pulling in more arctic air and dropping temperatures. While places like Janesville and Rockford have lighter winds and thus not bringing in as much arctic air.

The good news is, we're expecting a really nice warm up by the end of the week!