Summer like heat returns, areas with highest impacts

 This summer, more specifically, August has treated us quite well across the state line in terms of impactful weather. Besides some severe thunderstorms in the beginning of the month, temperatures and precipitation have been below average as a whole for a majority of the month.

August often being one of the hottest months of the year for the Midwest hasn't lived up much to expectations this month with temperatures staying in the upper 70's to low 80's with even some night hitting 40 degrees! This pattern will quickly flip through the weekend though as summertime heat begins to ramp back up across the Midwest.

Just starting with today, Saturday begins the warming trend for the state line as temperatures are expected to rise into the upper 80's later today with plenty of sunshine to make it feel a little warmer. This is just the appetizer for things to come this week but approaching the upper 80's today will be the second time only since August 5th! As well thunderstorm chances return tonight as temperatures don't drop too much with moisture sticking around through the evening.

As of now a complex of isolated to scattered storms is expected to develop around 10 pm tonight, although not expected to be severe expect some heavier downpours and flashes of lightning as those make their way east.

But, as we move into tomorrow and the rest of the week, temperatures will continue to rise especially into Monday and Tuesday. A ridge of high pressure will be right over head which will allow this heavy heat to move in and stick around for multiple days. Temperatures in the low 90's are likely Monday and Tuesday with Sunday getting close as well. With dewpoint temperatures in the upper 60's to low 70's this heat will have some humidly with it as well. During the early portions of the week, it will be crucial to practice heat safety as well as staying hydrated if you were to have outdoor activities.

Practicing heat safety will be even more crucial for urban areas, such as Downtown Rockford. The Urban Heat Island effect is caused by more buildings and darker surfaces that retain more sunshine and heat than lighter objects that reflect the sunlight. With these darker objects heat is retained more and with a higher number of darker surfaces and buildings, urban areas become a hot zone for heat to be locally increased. So, if you make your way to an urban location this week, temperatures may be two to three and possibly even four degrees higher than rural areas.

Luckily, as seen by Thursday temperatures begin to cool off into the weekend where more of the Northern and Northwest flow begin to bring in cooler temperatures to the region.