Incoming steady rain will lead to dense fog, flooding concerns

Sunshine, gusty winds, and unseasonably warm temps have been the talk of the town this week. 

So much so that we were able to break a record high yesterday as the Rockford Airport peaked at 54°, breaking the previous record of 52° from 2012. In the "12 seasons" of the Midwest, this is known as "Fool's Spring" where we first see a spread of unseasonably warm temperatures during the winter season. Friday features a shake up in this weather pattern, which includes a couple of alerts. The first being a DENSE FOG ADVISORY which will be in place area-wide until 9AM. Visibility prior to the morning commute is sitting at or below a half mile, which is what we'll see into mid-morning. 

The National Weather Service has also placed Ogle, Lee, Whiteside, and Dekalb Counties under a FLOOD WATCH. With steady rain chances in the forecast today, flooding may occur in poorly drained and urban areas. If you live along the Rock River, keep an eye out for flooding due to ice jams. This will be in place through the afternoon. 

 

Rain remains likely into midday, with more tranquil conditions settling in for afternoon. On the northern side of this storm system, winds will be oriented out of the northeast, limiting afternoon highs to the low 40s. Believe it or not, today's high of the 41° will come in above late-January standards. We hold on to partly cloudy skies overnight, with this cool northeast wind leaving lows in the low 20s. 

 

Clouds and this cool northeasterly wind hang tight for the entirety of our Saturday. However, temperatures stay mild with highs in the upper 30s. A disturbance coming in Saturday night into Sunday may bring a small chance for a rain/snow mix. Otherwise, the bigger headline with this system will be the massive warm up that occurs for Sunday. Following it's warm front, winds turn to the southwest, allowing us to see the possibility one more 50° day before we cool back down into the low 30s next week.