Moderate Rain for the Last Week of March

A pattern change for the last week of March will bring an increase in the potential for rainfall Monday and Tuesday, and an overall active start to the month of April.

Low pressure will move through the Plains and into the Great Lakes by Monday night.  Jet stream winds will shift around to the southwest working to pull in more moisture from the Gulf of Mexico.  Mainly clear skies will start the day Monday, but clouds will be quick to return by the afternoon.  As a warm front lifts closer to Iowa and Illinois during the day Monday, rain showers will begin to develop after 3pm in the southwest, lifting northeast between 6pm and 7pm.

Rain showers could be heavy at times for some Monday night, with even a few claps of thunder possible.  However the highest chance for any thunder will likely remain over southern Iowa and central Illinois.

Rainfall totals between Monday evening and Tuesday will range between half an inch to three quarters of an inch.  Totals nearing one inch will most likely be achieved south of the immediate Stateline, closer tied to higher moisture in the atmosphere. 

Temperatures Monday will warm into the upper 40's, to low 50's with overnight lows Monday night staying very mild in the mid and upper 40's.

By Tuesday a cold front moves through shifting the heaviest rainfall to the east.  Temperatures will warm into the mid 50's before cooling into the 30's Tuesday night.