Strong winds Saturday usher in plenty of warmth during the afternoon

 Southwest winds are expected to increase Saturday as high pressure sinks into the southeast and low pressure moves across the northern Great Lakes.  That low will pull a warm front through during the afternoon, quickly warming temperatures into the upper 70s and low 80s.

A WIND ADVISORY has been issued for most of

northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin beginning Noon Saturday as southwest winds could gust as high as 45 mph.  The strongest winds are expected to occur between roughly Noon and 6pm, with wind speeds relaxing some during the overnight Saturday.

The combination of the strong winds, warm temperatures and lower relative humidity values may also elevated the fire risk for parts of the region Saturday. A FIRE WEATHER WATCH has been issued for southern Wisconsin - Green, Rock and Walworth counties - also beginning at Noon and lasting through 8pm. This means conditions may be favorable for quickly spreading brush fires. Conditions across southern Wisconsin are a little more dry than in northern Illinois as moderate drought conditions have developed. Abnormally dry conditions have expanded a little further west into north-central Illinois, but the vegetation and brush isn't quite as dry as it is to the north.

Strong Winds Return, Boosting Temps into the 80s for the Weekend

April Flying By:

Happy Friday everyone! Not only have we made it to Friday, but I'd like to also welcome you to the last day of April. I know right? April just flew on by. A good chunk of the month came in above average. with our warmest daily high at the Rockford International Airport coming in at 86°. While we won't see 80s in the forecast today, they'll make a quick return just in time for the upcoming weekend.

Sun-Filled Friday:

For those heading out the door early on this Friday morning, make sure to grab a light jacket. Thanks to yesterday's cold frontal passage, temperatures ended up a few degrees cooler, in the mid to upper 40s. However, you'll also want to grab your sunglasses as well because the last day in April is off to a sun-filled start. Following yesterday's cold front, a high pressure system settled to the west of the area, really drying out the atmosphere. Sunshine looks to stick around well into the afternoon, with a few more clouds roaming in by sunset. For any dog-walkers out there, or for those who want to head outside, today will be a great day for outdoor activity. A breeze does develop by mid-day, with gusts approaching 25 mph at times. However, the winds felt today won't nearly be as strong as the winds that move in for the start of the weekend.

Windy Saturday:

That same high pressure system is expected to slide to our southeast by Saturday morning. What this will do is tighten up the pressure gradient at the surface, allowing winds to substantially increase by Saturday afternoon. The strongest winds look to arrive between 12PM-6PM, with gusts approaching 40-45 mph. This may bring difficulty for those who plan to travel, especially if you operate a high-profile vehicle. If you're spending the day at home, be sure to secure any loose objects in your yard before the strongest winds arrive. It also important to note that when we we have warm, dry, and windy weather like this, the fire danger grows. So I would  hold off on any open burning, and be extra careful with sparks and flame.

Weekend Outlook: 

These strong winds look to help give temperatures a big boost for the upcoming weekend, jumping from the mid 60s today to the low 80s both Saturday and Sunday. Sunshine looks to stick around for a majority of the weekend, with winds easing up a bit by Sunday. Still, winds could gust up to 25 mph at times. This weekend's sunshine looks to give way to thunderstorm chances as early as Sunday evening, with chances continuing into the beginning of next week.

Showers Early On, Conditions Dry Out Into Friday

Showery Start:

It's been quite the dry stretch for northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. In fact, the last time that the Rockford International Airport observed a measurable amount of rain was more than two weeks ago when a .10" fell on the 11th. Much of the rain from overnight remained to the south of I-80, with only a few light showers sweeping through our neck of the woods. With that being said, I would have the umbrella on hand if you're morning routine takes you out the door this morning. Scattered showers, along with an isolated thunderstorm or two remain possible, especially during the first half of the day.

Late-Day Cold Front: 

After mid-day, we’ll see conditions slowly dry out, allowing for some clearing to take place. Temperatures ahead of an advancing cold front look to climb into the mid to upper 60s, a couple of degrees cooler than high Wednesday afternoon. This cold front as it marches through will bring the potential for a few quick moving showers, especially between 4PM-8PM. Otherwise, conditions will continue to dry out, leaving us with a few passing clouds into the overnight hours. The one component that does stick around is the breeze that develops thanks to the cold frontal passage this evening. Gusts up to 25 mph are possible both this evening and especially during the first half of the night tonight. 

Weekend Warm-Up:

A cooler and drier air-mass will filter in behind today's frontal passage. This will bring an abundance of sunshine for the end of the work week, with high temperatures topping out in the mid-60s. Tomorrow's high pressure system is expected to shift to the southeast of the region by Saturday, allowing a bit-time warming trend to commence. While Saturday features more sunshine, winds will be with strong out of the southwest, and may gust up to 40-45 mph. If that were to be the case, that would come really close to Wind Advisory Criteria. These will will help aid in getting our temperatures closer to the 80° mark for both Saturday and Sunday.

Scattered Showers Wednesday & Thursday, Highs closer to Average

Near-Record Warmth:

Temperatures Tuesday afternoon came very close to our record high of 88° which has stood since 1915. Although we fell short of the record high by two degrees, Rockford's high of 86° now stands as the warmest day of the year. However, thanks to a frontal boundary sliding through early Wednesday morning, temperatures for the rest of the work week will end up being closer to late-April standards.

Cooling Down A Bit:

The same frontal boundary that brought a little taste of summer to kick off the work week has begun it's southward journey. What this means is as it slides to our south, cooler air that's been trapped to our north will begin to spill southward into the area. We're already feeling the effects of that frontal boundary, as much of the region is waking up to a much cooler start with temperatures in the upper 40s and low 50s. The cooler start is a sign for this to come as high temperatures today only look to top out in the mid to upper 60s, a good 20° to 25° cooler than Tuesday afternoon. A majority of our Wednesday looks remain generally dry, under a mostly cloudy sky. However, the potential for a few late-day sprinkles and showers is present, with much of the activity remaining south of I-88.

Thursday's Rain Chances:

Ahead of a secondary boundary, a more organized round of scattered showers, along with the possibility for a few isolated thunderstorms, arrives after midnight tonight. Severe weather is very unlikely, as the threat is more focused to the south along the frontal boundary. Conditions look to quiet down after mid-day, with clouds breaking up by Thursday afternoon. The actual cold front looks to slide through the region late in the afternoon, bringing along a few hit-or-miss showers for the ride. But this cold frontal passage will mark the beginning of a dry stretch of weather that looks lingers well into the weekend. 

Near record warmth Tuesday afternoon

 

Temperatures soared into the low to mid 80s Tuesday afternoon thanks to a rather blustery southwest wind.  The wind today, however, not nearly as strong as Monday as peak wind gusts topped 50-55 mph across northern Illinois.  Peak wind gusts Tuesday were a little more manageable, right around 30 mph. 

The high temperature in Rockford reached 86 degrees, just two degrees away from the record high for April 27th.  That record is 88 degrees set all the way back in 1915!  Tuesday's high of 86 degrees is the third 80 degree (plus) day we've felt during the month of April.  On average, our first 80 degree day typically occurs around the 22nd of the month.  The earliest 80 degree day occurred on March 15th, 2012 when the high reached 82 degrees.  That ended up being a very warm and drought filled Spring and Summer.  Temperatures will turn more seasonable with the highs in the 60s through the end of the week, but we could see those numbers warm back near 80 degrees for the weekend.

Summer-Like Warmth Continues into Tuesday, Thunderstorm Chances to Follow

Summer-Like Warmth:

Mondays in April have featured quite the temperature swing, with yesterday ending up 30° warmer than the Monday prior. In fact, yesterday's high of 82° stands as the warmest daily high of the year thus far. I say thus far because temperatures by this afternoon will likely surpasses yesterday's warmth, becoming the warmest we've felt since early September. 

Dry Weather Persist:

If you loved the weather yesterday, get ready for another dose of summer-like warmth. Now, yesterday we saw temperatures start out in the upper 30s-low 40s, and end up in the low 80s. With temperatures starting off Tuesday in the 60s this morning, it won’t take much for temperatures to soar back into the 80s. Similar to yesterday, today also features a mixture of clouds and sunshine, along with a gusty wind. THANKFULLY, and I meant to capitalize each letter, winds this afternoon won't nearly be as strong as Monday. With a stationary boundary sitting comfortably to our north, winds today will be more out of the south-southwest, gusting up to 25-30 mph. All-in-all, this will make for a beautiful day for outdoor activities. You'll just need to keep the allergy meds handy as tree pollen continues to remain at high levels. 

Rain Chances to Follow:

While a layer of warm air aloft has put a "lid" so to speak on rain chances today, A few rounds of light rain, and possibly an isolated thunderstorm or two, look to develop late Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning. In the latest outlook distributed by the Storm Prediction Center, a the entire region has been placed under a Marginal Risk (level 1 of 5) for severe weather. Mainly for small-sized hail. Rain chances continue into Wednesday, but it won't be a total washout, as there are some pockets of dry time occasionally. The on-and-off showers extend into Thursday morning, then the weather dries out for the end of the week. Sunshine takes us into Friday and Saturday. Temperatures because of a cold front that slides through Wednesday drop into the 60s briefly for the end of the work week.

Strong Winds Help Bring Back a Summer-Like Feel To Kick Off the Work Week

Weather Headlines:

Who's ready for it to feel a little like summer again? For those that answered yes, I am right there with you. Strong winds moving in behind a lifting warm front today will help usher in a MUCH warmer air-mass to kick off the work week. So much so, that we'll be flirting with our warmest high temperature of the year thus far, which was 81° back on April 6th.

Blustery Monday

Taking a glimpse at the latest surface analysis, our warm front was spotted to our southwest, leaving winds regionally out of the southeast. While winds are a little breezy this morning, they aren't strong enough to cause any disruptions to your morning drive. However, they'll become a nuisance once you're ready to travel home later on today. Once the warm front is fully through, gusts could approach 35-40 mph. Those who travel in a high-profile will definitely need to take extra caution by keeping a firm grip on the steering wheel. The sunshine, along with these gusty winds, will help temperatures soar into the mid-upper 70s this afternoon. Winds remain breezy out of the southwest overnight, resulting in overnight lows in the low 60s. You heard me correctly, low 60s. That's typically the average low in late-June. When you start off the day with a mild start of this magnitude, it just spells out what's to come for the rest of the day.

Little Taste of Summer:

Tuesday also features a mix of clouds & sunshine, with highs jumping into the low 80s. Winds throughout the day won't nearly be as strong, with gusts topping out around 20-25 mph. Clouds look to fill in more as we head into Tuesday night, as a cold front marches in from the northwest. Thankfully, temperatures following this cold frontal passage don't look to plummet like they did with the last cold front, which dropped highs into the 40s. High temperatures look to hover on either side of the 70° Wednesday, with 60s for both Thursday and Friday. Get this! Thursday's high of 62° is the coolest high of the next 7 days. Along with the cold front comes a chance for scattered showers and thunderstorms. It doesn't look like Wednesday will be a washout, as much of the heavier rainfall remains to our south.

Scattered Showers Friday Into Saturday, June-Like Feel Returns Early Next Week

Showery Friday:

Mother nature really put on a show for Earth Day huh? Overall, the average cloud cover at the Rockford International Airport came to 30%, which is the lowest observed in the last ten days. While you didn't need to use the windshield wipers yesterday, that may not be the case traveling today. 

Aside from areas of patchy drizzle, the rest of the morning hours look to remain fairly dry. A low pressure system drifting across the Upper Midwest Friday morning will help pull a little moisture into the area, resulting in a late-day round of scattered showers. These showers shouldn't amount to much, but will become just enough of a nuisance to where you'll need to briefly turn on your windshield wipers. Temperatures today won't be as warm thanks to the cloud cover, with most spots topping out in the mid to upper 50s. Rain chances extend into the overnight hours, lingering into early Saturday morning. Areas along and south of I-88 hold the greatest chance for more widespread shower activity through early Saturday.

Weekend Outlook:

The same area of low pressure that brings today's light rain chances will help swing a cold front into the region during the afternoon Saturday. Along with this frontal boundary will be a chance for a few hit-or-miss showers, which guidance brings in between 2PM and 6PM. Otherwise, it doesn't look like there's anything else to be concern about as many dry hours are favored. We'll continue ride the below-average train into the weekend with highs barely making it to the 60° mark Saturday afternoon. Once the front is through, clouds look to slowly thin out some as a drier but cooler air-mass filters in for the second half of the weekend. If you're looking to enjoy some more sunshine, Sunday's has you covered. It'll just be slightly cooler thanks to Saturday's cold front. Oh! And if you're into these earlier sunrises like me, check this out. Sunday's sunrise is scheduled to occur at 5:59PM. This will be the first sunrise of the year before 6AM, we won't see another 6AM sunrise until August 12th! Woohoo!

June-Like Feel:

Following a somewhat chilly weekend, a ridge of high pressure aloft takes control, pushing the jet stream north of the region. This will allow a much warmer air-mass to filter in, making it feel more like mid-June on Tuesday rather than late April. In fact, the warm up gets underway on Monday, as southerly to southwesterly winds push temperatures into the low 70s. With overnight lows only dropping into the upper 50s, this will allow for an even warmer afternoon for Tuesday. With southwest winds continuing to rip, highs look to top out in the low 80s. If the high at the Rockford International Airport reached 81° on Tuesday, that would tie it for the warmest day of 2021. Plus, that's almost double our high that was observed this past Tuesday.

Rain showers return Friday following Thursday's abundant sunshine

 

Temperatures Thursday morning started off a little on the chilly side, upper 20s and low 30s, but were quick to warm during the afternoon.  Highs reached the upper 50s and low 60s, officially reaching 63 degrees in Rockford.  Bright blue skies were found across much of the Stateline with only a few fair weather cumulus clouds developing throughout the day.

Clear skies are expected through the evening and first half of the night, but clouds will be quick to return by sunrise Friday.  The increase in cloud cover is the result of an area of low pressure currently moving through South Dakota.  Rain showers have developed as a result, and will be inching closer to the Great Lakes Friday.  Dry air, however, may prevent a steady rain from falling initially in the morning and could leave us with more clouds and a few sprinkles.  By the afternoon and evening scattered rain showers will be possible.

Heavy rain is not expected and rainfall totals will remain under a quarter of an inch.  We need the rain, however, as our last measurable rain occurred back on the 10th and 11th of April.  While a few scattered showers may occur for the first half of Saturday, we'll have to wait until next week for possibly more substantial rain as a larger storm system moves in across the middle of the country. 

Freeze Warning Expires, Sunshine Makes a Big Return For Earth Day

 Second Freeze Warning:

It's been a while since our neck of the woods observed low temperatures in the 20s. In fact, you would have to go all the way back to the beginning of the month, April 2nd, to find our last low in the 20s. Cloud cover moving in late may have slowed the cooling process overnight. However, these clouds are expected to make a quick exit early this morning, bringing back the potential for a few spots to fall into the upper 20s. For that reason, the National Weather Service continues to keep a Freeze Warning in effect for all of our counties in northern Illinois up until 9AM this morning. Be sure to bundle up before you head out the door, and also give your car a couple of minutes to warm up before hitting the roads.

Earth Day Forecast:

First of all, happy Earth Day everyone! Thankfully, the weather cooperates as we take today to celebrate our beautiful planet. An area of high pressure looks to settle to our southwest, bringing plenty of sunshine to the area following this morning's cloud cover. A breeze does develop by the afternoon, with gusts approaching 25 mph at times. Winds overall look to be out of the westerly direction with highs topping out close to the 60s° mark. To quickly summarize, a forecast were there will be plenty of opportunities to get outside. Today's breeze will quickly wind down during the evening commute, resulting in a quiet start to our night. Thankfully, no freeze warning is expected as increasing clouds late tonight will only allow temperatures to drop down into the upper 30s. 

Showery Friday:

The first half of our Friday remains dry, under a mostly cloudy sky. It'll be important to have the umbrella on hand just in case, as a few showers look to move in during the second half of the day.  Friday's showers give way to a generally dry weekend. Guidance continues to show skies remaining mostly cloudy on Saturday with sunshine returning by Sunday. Our best chances for rain in the foreseeable future look to arrive next week, along with the late-spring warmth. Temperatures soar into the 70's starting Monday, with highs approaching 80 degrees by Tuesday.

Second Freeze Warning Issued, Sunshine Returns for Earth Day

Tuesday's Snowfall:

While a majority of yesterday's snow fell well to the south, the Rockford International Airport picked up just enough to observe a trace. But that's about it so far for the month of April. With that being said, winter's return isn't finished just yet. A Freeze Warning remains in effect until 9AM this morning, with another slated for Thursday morning.

First Freeze Warning:

As yesterday's storm system continues to pull away, dry air is filtering to the area this morning. That's allowed cloud cover to slowly clear out, leading to a sun-filled start to our Wednesday. But as I always like to say, looks can be deceiving. It may look pretty out there, but you'll definitely feel that winter-like chill first thing out the door. A Freeze Warning remains in effect until 9AM, as Wednesday morning features temperatures in the upper 20s and low 30s. Don't forget to bundle up before heading out, and also keep in mind you may encounter a little frost on your car if you left it outside overnight. Sunshine remains best early in the day, as a weak upper-level disturbance slides in from the Upper Midwest this afternoon. 

Clouds are expected to fill in quickly this morning, turning skies mostly cloudy by the lunch hour. Guidance continued to show very steep lapse rates (the rate at which air rises in the atmosphere) with this disturbance as it moves overhead. What does that entail? The chance for a few hit-or-miss snow/rain showers. Due to the fact we have a bit of instability in the atmosphere, a few rumbles of thunder is also a possibility, especially in areas closer to Lake Michigan If you're lucky enough, you may encounter thundersnow! Chances look to come to an end before sunset, with clouds decreasing into the night. Clearing skies and light winds overnight will set the stage for the likelihood of a freeze by Thursday morning.

Second Freeze Warning:

For that reason, all of our counties in Northern Illinois will be under a Freeze Warning from 12AM to 9AM Thursday morning. Temperatures overnight will once again plummet into the upper 20s across the reason, resulting in another chilly and frosty start. However, an area of high pressure looks to settle in behind today's disturbance bringing plenty of sunshine for Earth Day. Overnight lows in the days to follow look to only drop into the upper 30s and low 40s. So widespread frost looks to not be as much of a threat. There may be the potential for patchy frost Friday morning, but doesn't look to be as severe. 

Lingering rain/snow showers Tuesday evening; Scattered rain/snow showers Wednesday

Widely scattered sprinkles/light showers and flurries will continue to come down through sunset Tuesday evening, with mostly cloudy skies expected through much of the night.  The light snow flurries from Tuesday didn't amount to much locally, with the Rockford airport officially receiving a trace of snow.  Elsewhere, steadier snow showers came down but didn't accumulate to much and were quick to melt away. 

Skies will slowly clear into Wednesday morning with temperatures falling into the upper 20s and low 30s.  A Freeze Warning will go into effect at Midnight, lasting through 9am Wednesday.  Make sure to bring in, or cover up, any plants that may be sensitive to the cold temperatures.  Anything you do cover up, you'll want to make sure to remove the covering shortly after sunrise. 

Wednesday will start with a little sunshine but cloud cover will be quick to build mid-morning, with skies turning mostly cloudy during the afternoon.  High temperatures will rise into the mid and upper 40s.  A cold pocket of air aloft (for mid-April) will cause a quick change in temperatures with height, creating a little instability during the afternoon.  That, combined with another quick moving low pressure system, will allow scattered showers to develop.  But because temperatures will fall below freezing just above the surface, the rain could mix in with a few snow showers, or even some graupel.  A few snow squalls could even occur during the day, but are likely to form closer to Lake Michigan.

Once the sun sets we will lose the instability and any mixed precipitation will come to an end.  Skies will clear as high pressure moves in from the west.  Temperatures are likely to fall into the 20s once again Wednesday night, with another frost/freeze potential by Thursday morning.  Thursday night, even though overnight lows will be in the 30s, patchy frost could develop before cloud cover moves in for Friday morning.  

Late Season Freeze Follows Tuesday's Snow Chances

If you don't remember the last time we had snow chances in the forecast, I don't blame you. It's definitely been a while. So long in fact that I deleted most of my winter graphics, but of course mother nature has the final word. But if you were wondering, the last time we observed snow at the airport was back on March 16th, only a trace. With that being said, yesterday's cold front has set the stage for us to see our first measurable snowfall since, with a late season freeze quick to follow. 

Tuesday's Snow:

Early Tuesday morning, conditions remain dry under a mostly cloudy skies, with a majority of the snow well to the south and west. The cooler air filtering in behind yesterday's cold front bringing a noticeably cooler start to the area. Temperatures around sunrise time wound up in the low to mid 30s, with wind chills registering in the upper 20s. I would have on an extra layer or two before you step out the door this morning. A flurry or two is possible during the morning commute, but a better chance for snow showers moves in after mid-morning. As temperatures warm away from the freezing mark, light snow could mix in with rain during the second half of the day. Locally, most spots look to end up with a trace to .5", with the heavier totals remaining south of I-80. Overnight, the bigger of winter's "one-two punch" arrives, as the incoming cold will lead to the likelihood of a spring freeze.

Freeze Warning:

For all of our counties in northern Illinois, a Freeze Warning will be in effect from midnight tonight until 9AM Wednesday morning. While the night starts off cloudy, skies are expected to turn partly cloudy before sunrise, which will further help temperatures drop below the freezing mark. If you took advantage of the early-April warmth and planted early, it's best to prep those plants for the freeze before heading to bed this evening. Be sure to bring any sensitive plants indoors. If you can't bring them indoors, cover them up and keep them covered until about Thursday. Overnight lows both tonight and Wednesday night are expected to fall into the mid to upper 20s!

Late-Season Snow/Mix Arrives Tuesday, Freeze Watch Issued

It may feel comfortable out there on this Monday morning, but don't let that fool you. Temperatures ahead of a strong cold front to our west are sitting in the upper 40s, with some spots sitting at the 50° mark. This cold front will bring a big shift in our weather pattern, which includes the potential to see some late season snowfall. But trust me when I say this, there are plenty of reasons not to freak out.

 

Monday's Cold Front

Overall, we had a fairly nice weekend with high temperatures both Saturday and Sunday climbing into the low 60s. Which if you're keeping track, is seasonable for mid-April standards. Thanks to this morning's cold frontal passage, highs today will end up 12° to 16° cooler, in the upper 40s. Light shower chances will be best during the morning as the front slides through, with generally dry conditions moving in for the afternoon. Northwest winds behind the front may get a bit breezy at times, with top gusts approaching 20-25 mph. The cooler air rushing in with these winds will help set the stage for the Stateline to see it's first flakes of the month of April. If that comes as a surprise that we haven't seen snow yet this April, it should. The last time we had a snowless April was back in 1998.

Early-Week Snow?:

We've been keeping an eye on this system for a couple of days now, and each model run has come in with a southward shift in the track. A big difference from what they were showing going into the weekend last week. That's why it's very important to not jump the gun when it comes to forecast winter weather. Typically all the finer details gets hashed out 12-24 hours before the start of the event. Now, onto the actual event. Guidance shows precipitation arriving early in the day Tuesday, starting out as a light snow. 

As temperatures slowly warm, Tuesday morning's light snow looks to change over to a wintry mix/light rain by the afternoon. With the southward shift in the track, the axis of heavier totals looks to remain south of I-80 and closer to I-55. So it's safe to say that we definitely dodged a bullet with this one. Whatever snow the Stateline does see during the day should result in very light accumulations, with most seeing T-1". With that being said, impacts to road conditions remain on the lower end of the spectrum thanks to the seasonable temperatures we've had as of recent. The late-April sun-angel is also going to make it hard for snow to accumulate on roadways. The main concern however will be the slushy snow that accumulates on elevated surfaces. The storm looks to be making it's way out of the area by Tuesday evening, with a very cold air-mass filtering in into the middle of the work week.

Freeze Watch:

The cold moving in behind Tuesday's system will allow temperatures to drop down into the upper 20s both Tuesday night and Wednesday night, resulting in the potential for a late-spring hard freeze. For that, the National Weather Service has placed all of northern Illinois counties under a Freeze Watch beginning Tuesday evening, lasting in Wednesday morning. For those like me who have planted early, be sure to cover you're plants or bring them indoors before going to bed this evening as the freeze could harm them, or even kill them off.

Sunshine, Warmer Temps Round Out the Work Week, Big Changes Arrive Early Next Week

Chilly Wednesday: 

We're coming off the coldest day since April 1st, as high temperatures Wednesday afternoon failed to eclipse the 50°. Yesterday's high of 49° marked the 5th below average day during the month of April. Thankfully, we land in the 50s today, with near seasonable highs returning by the weekend.

 

Weather Headlines:

Clouds from overnight were able to break apart before sunrise, resulting in some sunshine for those heading out early. However, last nights clouds didn't keep temperatures from falling into the 30s for the second straight morning. Similar to yesterday, a jacket or a sweatshirt will be needed heading out, as wind chills for many are registering in the upper 20s. 

With a dominate area of high pressure over the Upper Midwest, today remains dry under a mix of clouds and sunshine. There may be a moment or two where skies are mostly cloudy during the afternoon. Despite a lingering northwest wind, high temperatures jump into the low 50s. Sunshine looks to round out the work week, with slightly warmer temperatures expected for Friday. The weekend stays dry for the most part, with a slight chance for an isolated shower or two slated for Saturday. It's the system that moves in early next week, specially the Monday-Tuesday time frame, that we need to keep a close eye on.

Monday's Cold Front:

Guidance continues to showcase a strong cold front sliding in from the northwest, bringing a day of transition on Monday. This cold front could bring a few stray showers for the start of the work week, mainly during the late-day hours. However, as cooler air rushes in behind the cold frontal passage, some of those showers could feature a few wet snowflakes. We still have a some time for the better details of this event to be finalized or hashed out. So stay up-to-date with the forecast over the next few days. Temperatures following this cold front are expected to fall into the upper 40s-low 50s.

Freeze Potential:

Due to the big drop in temperatures, frost will be possible early Tuesday, with the potential for a freeze into Wednesday morning. If your someone who has planted early, you may want to cover up those sensitive plants before the transition to a wintry mix early Monday night. Historically, our average last 32° temperature falls around April 27th, so its common to see some of winter's chill this far into the spring season.

Cooler-Than-Average Highs Likely to Stick Around into Late-April

Chilly Morning:

Jack Frost was nipping at the Stateline's nose Wednesday morning, as chilly air filtered in overnight. Temperatures for those heading out the door early this morning dropped into the low 30s, with wind chills stuck in the 20s. While there's no need for the rain gear today, you'll definitely want to dress warmly as this chilly start is a sign of things to come.

Wednesday's Outlook:

Similar to Tuesday, the day will begin with some sunshine, only to give way to clouds as the day wears on. With a plethora of cloud cover overhead, along with a fairly decent northwesterly breeze, high temperatures Wednesday afternoon will struggle to make it out of the 40s. 

While much of the day features dry conditions, a spotty afternoon sprinkle or two is possible. Clouds look to break late in the day, leaving us with partly cloudy skies for the overnight hours. This will allow temperatures to once again drop down into the 30s, resulting in the potential for frost. Sunshine looks to be more prevalent on Thursday, with temperatures climbing back into the low 50s.Wind will still be a nuisance throughout the day, gusting up to 25 mph. 

Trending Towards Average:

Thankfully, today marks the coolest day of the next seven, as temperatures slowly climb towards average into the weekend. The closest we get to our average high temperature is Monday where we top out near 62°. But unfortunately, it doesn't look like this cooler-than-average stretch isn't going anywhere anytime soon. What we're also keeping an eye on is a strong cold front that looks to arrive early next week, bringing highs back down into the low 50s by Tuesday. In fact, the latest long-range temperature outlooks provided by the Climate Prediction Center keep this cooler trend in temperatures for at least the two weeks.