Record warmth returns early this week

 

It was a tale of two seasons this weekend with highs Saturday warming into the mid-30s, more typical for late February, but highs Sunday warming into the 60s! The well above average warmth will carry over into the start of the week, but a quick drop in temperatures can be expected mid-week, following another warmup by the end of the week.

Cloud cover has been on the increase for the last few hours thanks to the arrival of a cold front. But given the dry air mass ahead of the front, clouds are the only impact we'll see from the passing front. As high pressure moves in overnight skies will clear once again with lows falling into the low 30s.

A northeast wind will be quick to shift back around to the south, swiftly warming temperatures into the mid and upper 60s Monday. The current forecast high for Rockford is 68 degrees. The record high for February 26th is 62 degrees set back in 2000. But we don't stop there with the warmth as Tuesday's high will also climb into the upper 60s. The record high for the 27th of February is 68 degrees which was set back in 1976. Not only that, but it's possible we break the record warm low for the 27th, but that all depends on just how fast the cold air moves in behind a powerful cold front Tuesday night. The warm record low is 38 degrees set back in 1944.

What's also interesting is that we could come close to the all-time record high temperature for the month of February both Monday and Tuesday. That currently sits at 70 degrees which was set back on February 22nd, 2017! Prior to that, the last time we had a 70-degree day during the month of February was in 2000 on the 25th! To go even further, the all-time record warm low for the month of February is 48 degrees which was set on February 22nd, 1930! We could be nearing some incredible warmth for the month, but it will all come crashing to an end, briefly, Wednesday when a strong cold front moves through. In fact, we'll go from a high of 69 degrees Tuesday, to only a high of 31 degrees Wednesday with a brisk north wind! To top it off, snow showers are possible early Wednesday morning. The cooldown is only temporary as highs warm right back through the 50s and 60s into the beginning of March!