7PM UPDATE: While most of the wintry precipitation has pulled South and out of the area, a stray flurry may still be possible through 9-10PM. Clouds will continue to thin out, allowing temperatures to drop back to the teens and near single digits overnight. Wind chills could near zero.
5PM UPDATE: The steadier band of snow has reached Beloit with more significant drops in visibility noted. A coating of snow or even possibly some sleet may be possible within the heavier band of precipitation along the front. Be cautious of slick spots this evening regardless!
Precipitation has been fairly light so far, but a brief round of steady to heavy snow showers will be possible between now and 6PM from North to South across the Stateline along a sharp cold front. Quick drops in visibility and a coating of snow will be possible.
Snow showers will exit the area to the South after 7PM, clearing things out a bit through the evening. Temperatures will then drop to the single digits overnight. Slick spots will be likely, especially on untreated surfaces as temperatures fall quickly overnight.
So, for those ringing in the New Year out and about, you will want the extra layer as wind chills may feel closer to zero at times through the night. Winds will ease a bit after midnight, but temperatures will drop near the single digits for overnight lows. This will allow for any untreated surfaces to freeze over rather quickly, so be cautious of those as you head home!
Tuesday marked the 6th day in December where the Rockford Airport area observed measurable snow. Though it wasn't much, it was just enough to create a few headaches during the evening drive. Now, we're not out of the woods just yet as mother nature aims to send us another opportunity for measurable snow before we make the switch into 2026.
New Year's Eve will begin with cloudy skies. So you won't have to worry about slick spots or any travel impacts this morning. However, you'll need to keep an eye on road conditions if you will be out and about this afternoon and evening. A sharp cold front diving in will help spark up an additional round of flurries and snow showers. The main time frame will be from 11AM to 6PM. Like yesterday, slick spots will be a possibility. Some of the steadier snow showers could also result in lower visibility.
Temperatures ahead of the cold front will climb into the low 30s, but then drop into the 20s once winds switch to the northwest. Cloud cover is then expected to gradually clear, which will give temperatures more of an opportunity to bottom out.
This will leave us in the teens before midnight, so if you're heading out for any New Year's Eve festivities, plan on dressing in extra layers.
2026 starts off in the single digits, with afternoon highs landing in the upper teens. Winds will be light but it will be just enough to leave wind chill values in the single digits and teens.
New Year's Day will actually be the coldest day of the next 7 as temperatures will warm into the weekend. Expect highs in the 20s both Friday and Saturday, with 30s in the forecast next week.
This pairs well with the latest thinking by the talented scientists over at by the Climate Prediction Center. Both the short-term and long-term outlook show a better chance for temperatures to stay above-average during the first half of January.
11PM UPDATE: An isolated flurry or patch of freezing drizzle may remain possible at times overnight, but most will remain dry moving forward. Temperatures will continue to rise overnight, which may aid in improving road conditions. Still, keep watch for slick spots through morning!
8:30PM UPDATE: Most of the steady snow showers have now pushed out to the East into Kane County, but patchy freezing drizzle will remain across the rest of the Stateline through about 10-11PM. IL/WI Departments of Transportation are reporting partly to mostly snow/ice covered roads across nearly the entire area as of 8:30PM.
7:45PM UPDATE: Another burst of steadier snow showers is sliding into far NE Illinois and will possibly graze Eastern parts of Rockford. Elsewhere, pockets of light or even steady freezing drizzle have developed a glaze of ice accumulation. A winter weather advisory was issued until 10PM for Green and Rock Counties in Southern Wisconsin for the freezing drizzle potential. Surrounding weather service offices have issued special weather statements for the same threat.
6PM RADAR UPDATE: Steadiest snow has pushed East of I-39. But any snow that fell before developed a quick coating on roadways, so keep on the lookout for slick spots tonight. Further West, a few lingering flurries or light freezing drizzle may be possible through about 10PM.
Another couple rounds of light to steady snow will push through parts of the Stateline over the final 2 days of 2025! The first of which has been producing some shorter bursts of steady snow especially near and Northeast of Rockford. While not very heavy, snow is coming down quick enough to produce a coating on even the treated surfaces. Keep aware of slick spots late this evening if you must be out!
This first round of snow will last through about 9-10PM tonight, producing the coating of snow and slick spots mentioned above. The large majority of the Stateline Southwest of Rockford may remain on the drier side, but some patches of freezing drizzle may still produce isolated slick spots on untreated surfaces. Up to an inch of snow could come down where the steadier bands of snow linger.
A second round of snow will then arrive by 11AM-12PM Wednesday along an approaching arctic cold front. This will again produce a coating of snow, with most seeing less than a half inch of new snow. Winds will turn a bit stronger by mid-day, with gusts pushing 25-30 mph at times from the NW. As a result, falling snow may cause some more issues with visibility Wednesday compared to Tuesday. But snow will come to an end sooner, wrapping up after 6PM.
For once, winter participated in December. A look back at the final month of 2025 shows Rockford saw near-average snowfall and multiple Arctic blasts that led to 16 below-average days.
Even with 2 days left in the year, it looks like we are not done with the snow chances.
Clipper #1:
Forecast models send two weak clipper systems our way. The first is scheduled to arrive this afternoon with the second coming in Wednesday. The first half of Tuesday will be dry, though clouds are expected to increase into mid-morning.
Flurries chances will arrive shortly after, with chances lingering into the evening hours. Amounts will be extremely minor. But when you factor in the cold road temperatures, this will likely result in slick spots for the evening commute. Be sure to travel with caution. Once flurry chances end, we will stay dry for the rest of the night under mostly cloudy skies. Temperatures will briefly drop into the low 20s, then slowly rise towards the 30-degree mark ahead of clipper system #2.
Clipper #2:
Wednesday's "clipper" system will help drag a sharp cold front through during the late-morning and early-afternoon hours. Temperatures ahead of the front will end up in the upper 20s, close to the 30°.
Post-frontal passage, temperatures will slowly drop during the afternoon, landing in the teens by the evening. Tomorrow's system will also bring a second chance for flurries and snow showers. This chance will be a bit more organized than the round passing through today, resulting in a slightly higher chance for minor accumulations. Similar to Tuesday, we won't see much but just enough for slick spots to form during the afternoon.
Accumulations?:
In the end, snowfall amounts will end up between a dusting to as much as 1.5". Clouds will then slowly clear out as drier air spills in late in the evening, so any plans to celebrate the new year should be met with drier conditions. Temperatures however will be the bigger issue. Behind the cold front, temperatures overnight will fall into the single digits, then rise into the teens for Thursday afternoon.
Winter seems to be back in full force to close out 2025, following Sunday's very strong cold front and snow showers into Monday morning. Another pair of systems could bring more light snow chances our way Tuesday and Wednesday before we ring in 2026.
The first "clipper" system will make an approach tomorrow afternoon, with clouds building back in by late morning. Snow showers should hold off until the early afternoon but could last into the evening. The bulk of any falling snow will be categorized as light flurries with a few busts of steady snow mixing from time to time. Accumulations will be minimal, but given the cold surfaces, slick spots could develop for the evening commute.
Occasional light flurries may persist through the night and into Wednesday morning. Another round of steadier snow may be possible mid-day into early afternoon along a sharp arctic cold front sliding in from the North. Similar to Tuesday, flurries or light snow showers will be possible, but we will not see much accumulation. Clouds will begin to clear out with drier air arriving by late Wednesday evening, so any plans to ring in 2026 should be met with drier conditions.
All told between Tuesday and Wednesday, only about an inch of snow may come down in total. Each day may produce a dusting of snow, which will be enough to cause minor headaches on roadways. But we may not get a ton of snow to add onto our seasonal total as we close out 2025.
As meteorologist Jordan Wolfe and meteorologist Owen Szarley discussed over the weekend, we have multiple alerts in place including a Winter Weather Advisory and a Wind Advisory.
The WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY includes all counties except for Lee and Whiteside Counties and runs until 3PM this afternoon.
The WIND ADVISORY includes all of our counties and will be in place until 12PM.
IMPACTS:
Road conditions have taken a big hit, especially in our counties closer to the Illinois/Wisconsin border. The worst conditions are being felt across Winnebago County and Jo-Daviess County where IDOT is reporting completely snow-covered roads. If you plan to be out on the roads this morning, take it very slow. Be prepared for snow-covered and slippery roads as well as fluctuations in visibility.
TIMING:
The snow will begin to wind down around sunrise, though we can expect blowing and drifting snow to be a concern into midday. Winds will be strongest during the morning, gusting up to 55 mph.
Today's wind will also make for a bitterly cold start to the final stretch of 2025. Expect afternoon highs to be around 20° with wind chills values hovering around 0° throughout most of the day.
AFTERMATH:
This chill will end up sticking around into Tuesday and Wednesday, leaving afternoon highs in the upper 20s. It does seem like forecast models swing another cold front though early in the day Wednesday. This would help spill in more Arctic air, dropping highs in the teens for New Years Day.
11PM UPDATE: Conditions will deteriorate over the next hour or two as the steadier bands of snow move in from the North and West. Visibility may drop as low as a mile with the heaviest snow. Winds will remain strong, with gusts between 45-55 mph through the night. Blowing and drifting snow remains the biggest concern along with the rapid drops in visibility. All told, a dusting of snow may be possible near I-80/I-88, up to a couple inches accumulation near the IL/WI state line. Winds and falling snow will begin to ease up after 6AM Monday.
9PM UPDATE: Winter weather advisories were expanded into North Central Illinois and the rest of our Southern Wisconsin Counties. Generally, a dusting to 2" of snow still expected, with highest totals near the IL/WI state line. Blowing snow will be the bigger concern rather than accumulations.
8:00PM UPDATE: Temperatures are below freezing just about everywhere now, with some light snow showers pushing into Western parts of the Stateline. Winds have also picked up, gusting near 40 mph for most. Wind-whipped snow showers will be possible tonight with rapid drops in visibility and a quick coating of snow possible within the steadiest bands.
Following Sunday afternoon's widespread rain and relative warmth, temperatures have started to crash this evening. Many spots will be down below freezing after 6-7PM, then into the teens overnight. This also comes with an increase in strong winds. Gusts will frequently push 45+ mph, with occasional gusts near 50-55 mph. Spotty wind-whipped snow showers are also possible, with a dusting of snow near I-88 up to a couple inches possible near the WI state line.
First the winds, strong winds have already begun filtering in on the back side of the strengthening low pressure system, with many gusts reaching 35-40 mph as of 6PM. Winds will remain strong through the night, with sustained winds up to 30 mph and gusts frequently above 45 mph. Occasionally wind gusts may even reach up to 55 mph.
A wind advisory is in effect area-wide that will run through Monday evening. Winds will begin to subside Monday afternoon, but gusts will remain above 30 mph through late evening.
This wind may also blow and drift some of the snow that is on the way. Scattered snow showers will move in after 7PM, lasting on and off through the night. Visibility may be hindered near a mile or two with the combination of snow and 45 mph gusts. Snow showers may linger through 7AM Monday before coming to an end.
A winter weather advisory has been issued for Jo Daviess, Stephenson, Carroll, and Green (WI) Counties through midday Monday with the combination of the flash freeze potential and wind-whipped snow showers. A dusting of snow may be possible, with up to a couple inches near the Wisconsin state line.
Strong winds will also result in sub-zero wind chills overnight into Monday morning, with air temperatures remaining in the teens for most of Monday afternoon. A few brief pockets of sunshine may be possible Monday before the sun sets, which will then result in overnight clearing and lows in the single digits Tuesday morning.
Today looks to be one of the more active and dynamic weather days we've seen a while across the state line. Just like at the end of November, a strong low-pressure system is expected to move through the Midwest, however this time we won't be seeing 10+ inches of snow!
As of this morning this system is still off to our south and west with the center of low pressure over Northern Missouri. Through the day this will track directly over the state line bringing strong winds, heavy rainfall, and even wintry precipitation over the next 24 hours.
As of now, our main concern through the morning will be locally dense fog ahead of this low pressure as warm and unseasonably moist air has pushed northward creating limited visibility across the state line.
Into the evening hours tonight though, our main concern will be high winds and frozen surfaces as rainfall throughout the day will be likely to freeze later as temperatures drop. Wind gusts this evening and into tomorrow may approach 50-55 mph at times!
This will all be due to a very strong and dynamic cold front closely attached to the low-pressure system. This cold front is expected to sweep through the region by 4 p.m. today and as this occurs temperatures will drop very quickly with temperatures expected to drop nearly 20° degrees over 4 hours.
In terms of precipitation, most of what we see today will come in the form of rainfall, even heavy at times. Rainfall totals this afternoon may approach 0.5-1" by the time this system has passed, which will cause dangerous visibility at times as well as dangerous driving as once temperatures drop below freezing a flash freeze may occur with rainfall on surfaces. As well, into the evening mixed precipitation and some light snowfall will begin to fall behind the low-pressure system, although accumulations look to remain below an inch.
A dynamic winter system will bring rain and isolated thunder early Sunday, then plummeting temperatures, snow showers, and very strong winds Sunday night. Below is a breakdown of the next 36 hours.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Fog remains the initial concern this evening with visibility under a mile for most. Dense fog possible especially West of I-39 through 12PM Sunday. Rain showers will begin to arrive in scattered form after 3-4AM.
SUNDAY MORNING-AFTERNOON: Steady to even heavy rain showers will be possible, with an isolated risk for some thunderstorms near and South of I-88. A low-end severe risk is also possible toward I-80. Locally gusty storms may be possible, but the severe threat is minimal this far North. We will see a bit of a lull in precipitation Sunday afternoon as the developing low pressure system passes overhead, but big changes swing through on the tail end of the low.
SUNDAY EVENING-NIGHT: Temperatures will come crashing down immediately on the back side of the low, with a near 30-degree drop in a matter of 6-8 hours. Rain will quickly switch over to a mix and then snow after 6PM, as temperatures drop below freezing shortly after that. Wind will also pick up very quickly during this time, with gusts approaching 40-45 mph by evening and near 45-55 mph overnight into Monday.
MONDAY MORNING: Scattered snow showers will linger into Monday morning, with steadiest snow falling across Southern Wisconsin, where 2" or more could come down. Most in Northern Illinois may see about a dusting to an inch or two. Any falling snow will significantly limit visibility with the strong winds. Any moisture on roadways will quickly freeze over, causing hazardous travel Sunday night into Monday morning. Strong winds persist into Monday, with gusts remaining strong through Monday afternoon. A WIND ADVISORY will remain in effect through 6PM Monday.
The biggest threats with this system will be the very strong winds and sharply falling temperatures causing a flash freeze. Sunday afternoon may see temperatures in the 50s, while Monday morning will be in the teens.
Just like yesterday, dense fog will once again be possible this morning as unseasonably high moisture near the surface will be present while temperatures will be above average once again. Combine that with light winds through the morning, fog will develop easily across the region/ Right now dense fog advisories are in place west of I-39, so if you decide to head west this morning make sure to take precautions and slowdown in reduced visibility!
Through the rest of the afternoon, cloudy skies will keep temperature consistent in the low to mid 40's however within this cloud cover a few isolated to scattered showers will develop later tonight and into the overnight hours. A low-pressure system will move in quickly overnight tonight into tomorrow which will bring in even more moisture for showers to develop along with some patchy fog possible once again tomorrow morning.
Rain showers will only become more widespread through tomorrow morning especially as the center of low-pressure spins overhead. We'll see unseasonable rainfall with this system as rainfall totals may approach 0.50 inches or higher. Behind the low, cooler air will quickly push in bringing the chances for winter precipitation into tomorrow night.
