Unseasonably mild stretch carries on into the first full week of February

This year's edition of the "fake spring" season is on a roll as the Rockford Airport has observed record warmth in 2 of February's first 4 days! 

The same upper-level ridge that has resulted in this incredibly warm and record-breaking air remains in control for the first few days of week. However, there are signs of a pattern change, one that will help bring temperatures down by the weekend.

A northeast pull off of Lake Michigan will help bring a little moisture inland. This may pave the way for a round of dense fog to form, especially for areas along and east of interstate 39. 

If you plan to be out and about this morning, take it slow if you do happen to encounter any reduction in visibility. As of this writing, areas across northeast Illinois have been placed under a dense fog advisory, which does include McHenry County. Any fog that does develop should linger into the late-morning hours, with skies slowly turning partly cloudy for the afternoon. Temperatures will end up a smidge cooler than Sunday thanks to this northeasterly flow, landing in the mid 40s. 

Dense fog will once again become a concern overnight into Tuesday morning as we continue to see moisture being pulled off of Lake Michigan. 

In a similar fashion to today, fog should linger into the mid to late-morning hours. Skies will turn partly cloudy by Tuesday afternoon, allowing highs to soar into the upper 40s, close to 50°.

 

Record high temperatures will again be in jeopardy as highs are expected to reach the low 50s Wednesday afternoon. As of this morning, we have a high of 52° in the forecast, which is the record high for February 7th set back in 2009.  

Highs will fall short of our record high of 58° (1990) Thursday afternoon. However, our forecast high of 56° lands 25° above early-February standards. 50s continue into Friday before a cold front helps bring cooler air in for the weekend. 

This air-mass, which originates from Alaska, will bring temperatures down into the low 40s for Saturday, then upper 30s for Sunday afternoon. Normal highs at this point are usually in the low 30s.