More Rain on the Way - Flash Flood Watches Issued

A Flash Flood Watch has once again been issued for Stephenson, Jo Daviess, Carroll and Whiteside counties lasting through Midnight Thursday.  A short break in the rain, for most, occurred Tuesday afternoon as isolated showers and storms developed with the heating of the afternoon.

Skies will remain partly cloudy through the overnight as more widespread and heavy rain continues from Wisconsin back through Iowa. 

Those showers are forming along and ahead of a cold front that will move through northern Illinois by Wednesday afternoon.  Moisture from the Gulf will remain in plentiful supply causing more widespread, heavy rain to occur during the afternoon and evening.  It's possible another half an inch to an inch of rain could fall through Thursday morning. 

The cold front will then stall to the south, but just how far south is still in question.  Moisture from the remnants of Tropical Storm Gordon (ready to make landfall Tuesday evening along the Gulf shoreline) will lift north, interacting with the front later this week.  This could mean very heavy rain, possibly over five inches, could occur for parts of Missouri, Iowa and Illinois.  Should the front move a little further north the chance for a widespread, multi-day heavy rain event will increase across northern Illinois.  If

the heaviest rain remains to the south, it will help some of the drought stricken areas of Iowa, Missouri and Illinois.  If it falls north, however, river flooding will worsen as many rivers are at minor flood stage, expected to reach moderate flood stage within the next couple of days.