Storm chances return overnight

The streak is now up to 10 days. 10 days where the Rockford Airport has observed a high temperature at or above the 80° mark.  

High pressure will continue its dominance for one more day before our weather pattern takes a turn. Partly cloudy skies with afternoon highs falling a degree or two shy of the 90° mark. 

 

As the upper-level ridge breaks down, our next storm system will be allowed to slide into the western Great Lakes. This will allow cloud cover to increase into Thursday night, bringing with it our next chance for some rain. Showers and thunderstorms will develop along the associated cold front to our northwest, sliding our way early Friday morning.  

 

On approach, they will be weakening, which will lower the potential for severe storms. However, the Storm Prediction Center placed areas like Dubuque, Galena, Stockton, Elizabeth, and Savanna under a level 1 of 5 Marginal Risk. Damaging winds will be the primary concern. In the end, rain totals won't be much, though we'll take what we can get considering how dry September has been. Models then keep the chance for a shower or a few sprinkles as Friday morning's commute gets underway. 

From there, our atmosphere will rapidly dry out, allowing sunshine to return as early as midday. Highs will fall back a few degrees, landing in the mid 80s. A stronger cold front will then sweep through Sunday, ushering in a noticeably cooler airmass. High temperatures fall into the upper 70s Sunday, then low 70s for the first part of next week.