Summer-Like Heat and Humidity for the Weekend

Temperatures will feel more summer-like for the holiday weekend with highs expected to warm into the upper 80's and low 90's area wide.  Highs on Friday won't quite make it to 90 degrees in Rockford, but could very well reach 90 degrees Saturday, Sunday and Memorial Day.  While most of the weekend is expected to remain dry there are some thunderstorms that will move through Friday late afternoon and evening.  The severe threat remains low but some of the stronger storms could contain hail and gusty winds during the evening and overnight.

The jet stream will begin to lift back north forming a ridge of high pressure over the Midwest and Great Lakes by Sunday afternoon.  This will potentially bring temperatures up into the low 90's for Sunday and Monday.  Both days will have a low thunderstorm threat. 


Part of the reason for the heat building back in will be the development of what could become a tropical cyclone by this weekend in the Gulf of Mexico.  An area of low pressure near the Yucatan Peninsula has a high probability of further development into either a tropical depression or storm by this weekend, impacting much of Florida and the Gulf states.  The arrival of this tropical system will work to buckle the jet stream back north keeping temperatures fairly mild for much of the Midwest and Great Lakes.

Another factor in some of the warmth this weekend is just how dry it's been over the central Plains and Southwest.  Extreme to exceptional drought conditions persist, and have been for some time.  A ground with little moisture in it will heat up a lot more efficiently than a ground that has moisture.  In that area, temperatures Friday and Saturday will warm into the 90's and 100's.  With the middle and upper level winds coming in from the west this weekend it'll help pull some of that warmth eastward into Illinois and Wisconsin.

Highs on Friday will warm into the middle and upper 80's but reach the low 90's Saturday-Monday.  Moisture does increase during this time which will push the heat index into the low, possibly mid, 90's by Sunday and Monday.


It's not going to be oppressively hot but it will be our first big heat of the season.  And since our bodies are not used to the heat just yet, it's important to take it easy this weekend.  Especially since so many will likely be spending time outside for the holiday.