Active weather returns Tuesday evening

 

Showers and isolated thunderstorms were with most of the Stateline Tuesday morning, but as a warm front nears late Tuesday afternoon skies are now beginning to clear. With that, temperatures are warming through the low 80s across northern Illinois, with the low 70s to the north.

The next hour or two remains dry but a line of thunderstorms in eastern Iowa will move closer to northwest Illinois between 6pm-7pm, impacting most of the region around sunset.

A Tornado Watch has been issued for Jo Daviess, Carroll, and Whiteside counties until 9pm Tuesday evening, however, the higher tornado threat will remain west of the Mississippi River. Any storm that does reach severe limits locally will likely be capable of producing strong wind gusts. The greatest risk for any strong to severe storms will remain west of I-39.

What may end up being a bigger concern with any storms will be the risk of heavy rain. A Flood Watch has been issued for Stephenson, Jo Daviess, Carroll, and Whiteside counties in northwest Illinois, and for Green County in southwest Wisconsin until early Wednesday. 

The warm front now beginning to lift closer to the Stateline will also bring with it a rapid increase in moisture, leading to periods of heavy rainfall with any storm that moves through. This will lead to rainfall totals nearing one inch (if not over) in some locations. Rainfall totals will be a little less east of I-39.

The cold front clears the region Wednesday morning with sunshine returning for the afternoon. Highs on Wednesday will warm into the mid and upper 80s.