Welcoming In the Month of August with "September-Like" Temps

If you missed yesterday's sunrise, no need to worry. Mother nature made sure to show her colors this morning. Thanks to a deck of high cirrus clouds that tracked in overnight, our region woke up to a spectacular cotton-candy sunrise this morning. If that wasn't enough, temperatures were very refreshing to start thanks to a cool northerly breeze. Most of our locations dropped into the low 60s this morning. But for those that began the day with calm winds, such as Freeport and Savanna, temperatures were given the opportunity to fall into the upper 50s. Regardless, you'll definitely feel the difference once you take your first step out the door this morning. A very fitting way to kick off our Friday. And the good news is, this cooler start is a sign of things to come for the weekend into early next week.

As for the rest of our Friday, highs will once again climb into the low 80s. Thanks to an area of high pressure to our northwest, plenty of sunshine is in the forecast for the end the work week, but clouds are likely to stick around the "primetime heating" hours of the day. The one thing that has been consistent this morning on the high-res models is a  chance for an isolated shower/sprinkle, especially along the I-39 corridor. However, nothing to be too concerned about if you are planning to travel today, or have plans to be outdoors. In fact, this afternoon is going to be comfortable humidity-wise, as dew points remain in the low 60s. This same high pressure system will also help keep the atmosphere dry overnight tonight, only allowing a few passing clouds to float overnight. Temperatures, thanks to less cloud cover and very light surface winds, will drop into the upper 50s by Saturday morning.

If you haven't heard, tomorrow marks the beginning of August. I know right? In my opinion, July definitely flew on by. But here's what we typically see for the Rockford Area during the month of August. Our average highs remain in the low 80s, with average lows dropping into the upper 50s by the 31st. Rainfall-wise, we average just over 4.5" of rainfall, making it the 3rd wettest month of the year. And since we are well beyond the longest day of the year (first day of Summer), we also lose quite a bit of daylight during the month of August.

Temperatures for the first few days of the month are going to end up near seasonable. But, as the last month of meteorological summer gets underway, cooler weather is ahead. A strong cold front is expected to pass through the region Sunday night into Monday morning, which will help filter a cooler air-mass for the start of next week. This will drop our high temperatures for from the low 80s Sunday, into the upper 70s for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Something that we typically see during the middle of September. Not only are cooler days on the horizon, but expect cooler nights as well. Overnight lows are expected to drop into upper 50s during the same time frame. So, if you're looking to save a couple of bucks, this weather will bring a great opportunity to give your air-conditioner a much needed break.

Temperatures Remain Cool Through the Weekend, Even Cooler by Next Week

Mother nature put on a show this morning, as the cloud cover made for a beautiful start to our day. If you missed it, here is what the sunrise looked like our in the Poplar Grove area. It really was jaw-dropping and a really nice sight to wake up to on this Thursday. Now, temperatures were once again warm to kick off the day thanks to mostly cloudy skies. Most spots ended up in the upper 60s and low 70s this morning. For those that are tired of these warmer temperatures, relief begins today, as cooler air spills into the region.

This frontal boundary, as of this morning, has stalled out to the south of the Stateline area. This should keep most rain chances to the south. primarily south of Interstate 88. However, we do keep a chance for a passing shower or two this afternoon as cloud cover is expected to slowly decrease throughout the day. High temperatures, thanks to this cold front, will end up cooler in the low 80s. Overnight tonight, northeasterly flow will help continue to dry out the atmosphere, allowing for a cooler start to our Friday. Under a partly cloudy skies, temperatures will sink down into the low 60s. But I wouldn't be surprised if a few spots locally dropped into the upper 50s.

Yesterday's cold front is going to help keep temperatures below average by a few degrees through the upcoming weekend. However, a secondary cold front that is set to pass on through Sunday night into Monday is going to help spill a cooler air mass across the Great Lakes. As mentioned yesterday, the core of the heat will be trapped to the west thanks to upper-level ridging. As for high temperatures, we'll see a little taste of fall arrive as we head into the first week of August, as highs drop from the low 80s to the upper 70s. We'll even see the potnetial for overnight lows to drop into the upper 50s. Rain chances remain light into the weekend. The best chance the Stateline to see some rain also resides with Sunday's cold front as chances continue into the start of next week.

A significant difference when you compare the the hot start we had to July, to what we have in the forecast for the start of August. The average high for the first 5 days of July comes to 91.4°. When you take the average of the first 5 days for August in our forecast, that comes to 79.4°. Yeah, that's the average high for the start of September. And it doesn't look like this cooler pattern is heading out anytime soon, as the latest temperature outlook for the Climate Prediction Center keeps our area in the below average category into next weekend. 

Heavy Rain Producing Thunderstorms Developed Wednesday as Dew Point Temperatures Warmed back near 70 Degrees

You may have noticed it felt a little more muggy Wednesday afternoon compared to the past few days. That's because dew point temperatures (how we measure moisture in the atmosphere) warmed back into the upper 60s and low 70s for many across northern Illinois. Air temperatures actually warmed into the mid and upper 80s, pushing the heat index in the low 90s for some.

The rise in dew points occurred as moisture was pushed along a cold front thanks to southwest winds early in the day. This 'pooling' moisture also prompted a line of thunderstorms to develop from west to

east, stretching from Carroll County all the way into DeKalb County, during the afternoon. The storms were slow to move, only around 15 mph to the east. Localized heavy rain fell as a result with a few locations picking up a quick half an inch of rain. That line of storms was quick to move out, but a few more showers and thunderstorms continue to develop across the area, as well as in eastern Iowa. This will generally be the case through much of the evening and overnight as a disturbance moves in from the west.

The high moisture air mass will stick around through the night holding temperatures in the mid and upper 60s. It may still feel a little sticky Thursday as cloud cover builds up for the afternoon. A few spotty showers remain possible during the afternoon as low pressure passes to the south. Northeast winds Thursday will help to dry out the atmosphere by Thursday night, leaving us with a mostly clear sky and temperatures down around 60 degrees.

Quick Uptick in Heat & Humidity Ahead of Cooler Air-Mass

Thanks to additional cloud cover this morning, our "hump" day began on a warmer note. Temperatures for most locations ended up in the upper 60s, a good 5° to 10° degrees warmer from low temperatures on Tuesday morning. This just goes to show how much of an influence cloud cover has on our temperatures.

Yesterday under mostly clear skies, a few spot did manage to drop into the upper 50s. But when there is a good amount of cloud cover around, it makes it hard for some of that radiation observed by the surface to "radiate" back into the atmosphere. That was the case this morning, leading to the warmer start. With that being said, you'll definitely notice an uptick in humidity this afternoon. Dew points continue to climb through Wednesday as a slow-moving front pushes through the Stateline. This could also lead to an isolated shower or thunderstorm.

As this "backdoor" cold front sinks down from the north, it will provide enough lift for a few pop-up showers and thunderstorms to form. Hi-res models this morning remained consistent, keeping the best chances to see one around the I-88 corridor between 1PM to 5PM. However, today will not be a total washout. Despite today's rain chances, our Wednesday does feature many dry hours under a partly sunny sky. You'll also notice a jump in humidity this afternoon, as dew points climb to near the 70 degree-mark before cooling off as the cold front slides through. After this cold front slides through, this will begin a stretch of cooler weather that looks to stretch into beginning of August.

As a strong ridge of high pressure develops over the Rockies, this will help confine the heat to the west. As for the Stateline, we'll remain underneath a large trough. Meteorologically speaking, troughs help spiral in cooler air from Canada, and even from the arctic circle. This will be the main reason behind the cooler weather we see heading into the first few days of August.

High temperatures through the weekend will remain in the low 80s, with dew points remaining comfortable in the upper 50s and low 60s. There is also the potential to see highs in the upper 70s by the start of next week. For the Rockford area, it's been quite some time since we've observed a high in the 70s. We would have to go back to June 25th, where the airport observed a high of 78°. If that's not enough, cooler night are also likely with a few days starting out in the upper 50s.

Isolated Showers Possible Overnight

Skies were filled with sunshine Tuesday afternoon as temperatures warmed area wide into the low to mid 80s. Just a few clouds developed during the afternoon and evening, while isolated thunderstorms developed up north.

An upper level disturbance and weak cold front will continue to move east and south Tuesday night into Wednesday. A slight increase in moisture has allowed a few more clouds to spread across northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin, but skies remain dry. Isolated showers are possible overnight, most likely after Midnight and closer towards daybreak Wednesday, but the overall coverage of any precipitation will remain fairly limited.

As the cold front comes through Wednesday an isolated shower/storm will develop, but remain mostly confined along and south of the I-88 corridor. Overall rainfall amounts from Tuesday night, Wednesday and Thursday will likely remain under a quarter of an inch.

Break from High Humidity Continues, Storm Chances Arrive Overnight

Yesterday ended up being a beautiful day across the Stateline, especially once the cloud cover and high humidity departed. A big difference from what we encountered on Sunday, as heat indices climbed over the triple digit mark for multiple hours of the day. That definitely wasn't the case on Monday, as both the high temperature and the heat index only climbed into the low 80s. That's was all thanks to a cold front that came through during the middle of the day. A secondary cold front is going to be the main factor in the continuation of this comfortable stretch for the rest of the work week. However, it does also bring rain chances to the area.

The Stateline woke up to a very refreshing start this morning, with temperatures in the low 60s for most. In fact, some even managed to make it down into the upper 50s. Following yesterday's cold front, skies remained clear overnight, allowing for rapid cooling to occur at the surface. If you're heading to work early in the day, the rain gear can be left at home. This sun-filled start to our Tuesday will give way to few cumulus clouds by the afternoon. A quick moving disturbance passing through central Wisconsin later today could bring a late-day shower or thunderstorm to the area. But models continue to show the bulk of the activity remaining to the north. High temperatures for most will end up in the low to mid 80s, making for another beautiful day for outdoor activities. Just be sure to put some sunscreen on before heading out. Thanks to all the sunshine we'll see, the UV index is a 9 out of 11 today.

However, the best chance for any rain to make it to the region holds off until after sunset. The first half of our night seems to remain dry, but hi-res models were consistent on activity tracking into our areas up in southern Wisconsin around the midnight hour. As this backdoor cold slowly sags to the south, a few showers and possibly an isolated thunderstorm will move into northern Illinois during the predawn hours. As of this very moment, severe weather is not expected with this activity. Rain chances should begin to wind down as we inch closer towards the mid-morning hours, with all chances being pushed to the south of Rockford by the afternoon. Clouds may linger for the start of our day, but the rest of the day features a partly sunny sky with highs back in the low to mid 80s.

Wednesday will also feature a spike in humidity as dew points are expected to climb into the upper 60s. So the air may feel "sticky" at times, but nothing to the extent of what we felt over this past weekend. Once we see our surface winds shift to the northeast by Thursday morning, the humidity will drop back down into the "comfortable" range. In fact, thanks to an area of high pressure moving in, temperatures and dew points are expected to remain comfortable for the second half of the work week. High temperatures will top out in the low 80s, with dew points in the upper 50s. As far as any chances for rain, chances remain limited with no widespread rain expected into the start of next week.

Hot and Humid Weekend Short-Lived - Much More Comfortable to End the Month of July

Temperatures Saturday and Sunday soared into the low to mid 90s across northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin, with a peak heat index Sunday afternoon well over 100 degrees. Thunderstorms Sunday evening did bring temperatures down, but didn't do much to get rid of the humidity. In fact, it remained rather muggy through late Monday morning. That's when a cold front came through, bringing down a drier air mass.

A couple cold fronts passing through the Midwest this week will keep temperatures right at, or just slightly below, normal. Tuesday will likely be our 'warmer' day with temperatures in the mid 80s. You may also notice just a slight uptick in the humidity late Tuesday and Wednesday, ahead of a second cold front that'll pass Wednesday afternoon.

The heat from the weekend has pushed south and west as winds in the jet stream shift to the northwest. The northwest flow will continue to feed a drier and less moisture rich air mass into the Great Lakes. Weak disturbances moving through the northwest flow will bring at least an isolated chance for showers and storms late Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, but with moisture lacking the risk for any significant storm system will be reduced.

Morning Clouds Give Way to Afternoon Sunshine, Remaining Comfortable into Friday

As I was making my way home from Pennsylvania yesterday, the thermometer in my car just kept going up and up as I approached the Stateline. Honestly, I wasn't surprised. Yesterday ended up being the hottest day of the year so far as a high of 95 degrees was observed at the airport.

But it definitely felt hotter, as heat indices were above the 100° mark for multiple hours of the afternoon. This is the first day that Rockford has observed a high at or above 95° since July 20th of last year, a span that lasted 373 days. Fortunately, we aren't going to feel that oppressively humid and hot for the days to come, as a more comfortable pattern settles in.

For those heading out the door this morning, you'll be greeted to mostly cloudy skies and a warm start. Temperatures, ahead of an approaching cold front, are starting out in the 70s. As this cold front marches through during the mid-late afternoon hours, there will be enough lift for a pop-up thunderstorm or two early on.

Otherwise, this frontal boundary will help clear out this morning's cloud cover. I do think we hold onto these pesky clouds into the late morning hours, but we should really start to see sunshine fill our skies by this afternoon. Temperatures today, also because of the front, will be about 5° to 10° cooler than yesterday, in the low 80s. Tonight will also be quiet, under a mostly clear sky. Temperatures look to drop into the low 60s by tomorrow morning, which is seasonable for this time of year.

So, if you're like me and are sick and tired of this hot and humid weather, I've got some good news. A pair of cold fronts will help keep the comfortable weather around for the final days of July. The cold front passing through the region today will keep highs in the low 80s for the start of the week, with dew points in the low 60s. The only day that humidity could be an issue is Wednesday, as dew points climb into the upper 60s ahead of the second cold front. But once that cold front swings through, the humidity drops yet again for the second half of the work week. Even possibility dropping into the upper 50s for Friday.

Dry, Comfortable Week to Follow Weekend Heat

After a second consecutive weekend of excessive heat in the Stateline, a stretch of comfortably warm and dry weather is expected for the upcoming week.

On Saturday, the city of Rockford reached a high of 91° though most of the day was spent with heat indices in the mid-90’s thanks to dewpoint temperatures in the lower to middle 70’s. In the Stateline’s westernmost counties, where dewpoint temperatures were a couple of degrees higher, some areas including Galena, Savanna, and Sterling saw a 100° heat index Saturday afternoon. The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for Stephenson, Jo Daviess, Carroll, and Whiteside Counties and is set to expire at 7:00 PM CDT on Sunday.

Dewpoint temperatures are expected to hold steady, if not increase a degree or two, heading into Sunday. Temperatures are forecast to be a tad warmer likely reaching the lower 90’s across much of the area which will result in triple digit heat indices, possibly as high as 104 degrees. Triple digit heat indices could arrive in the Stateline as early as 12 o’clock noon and last four to five hours. A passing cold front will bring a line of showers and thunderstorms to the area from the northwest midafternoon. The rain will likely reach the Rockford area later in the afternoon, reaching the southeastern portions of the Stateline by the early evening. The system will quickly cool temperatures allowing them to fall into the 70’s by the midevening.

The rain will slowly taper off through the night and into Monday morning. By late morning on Monday, just about all of the rain should be out of the Stateline. Much of the cloud cover will soon follow suit allowing more and more sunshine to flow in through the afternoon and evening. Following this cold frontal passage, two large high pressure systems will move through the area over the rest of the week. The first will inch in from the west late Monday. The second much stronger system of high pressure will begin to influence our weather late Wednesday as it approaches from the north and will continue to do so through the end of the work week. These two systems will help keep the low and mid-levels of our atmosphere relatively dry with dewpoint temperatures forecast to hold steady in the upper 50’s to lower 60’s. They will also reduce the dynamics necessary for rainfall over the Stateline. Zonal mid-level flow should help regulate temperatures through the week keeping them in the middle 80’s during the day and lower to middle 60’s overnight. This will result in a mostly dry and very comfortable work week following early Monday morning.