Chance of Thunderstorms Tonight

The heat will return today after a break on Sunday when the high was only 81 degrees. Interestingly enough... the day averaged cooler than normal for the first time since June 26th.  Every single day since then has been above normal.  It will be mostly sunny today, and temperatures will be back above average once again with a high in the low 90's. A cool front will approach the Stateline later today, and will be located from near Green Bay, Wisconsin to near La Crosse to Sioux City by 6 pm this evening.  Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to break out along and ahead of the front by 6 pm this evening.  A couple of those storms could approach severe limits with the possibility of damaging winds and large hail. Some thunderstorms may linger until after midnight as a cool front drops southward across the area.  The overnight low will be in the upper 60's.  There will be a few clouds to start the day on Tuesday, but skies will become sunny during the morning.  High pressure over Minnesota will feed in a northerly breeze around 10 mph.  Don't expect temperatures to cool down very much.  The high temperature will top out near 90 degrees on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  A couple of systems may affect the area by Thursday, so there will be a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms developing.  A stronger system moving through the area on Saturday will increase the chances of showers and thunderstorms.  High pressure from Canada will switch winds around to the north on Sunday.  Cooler and drier air will move in from the north.  The high will be in the middle 80's under sunny skies.

Not as Hot, but Still Above Average

A weather system over the plains has caused an area of showers and thunderstorms to develop to well  our west over Iowa. Some high cloud cover from that area of showers has overspread parts of the Stateline. It will be partly cloudy overnight over most of northern Illinois, but there will be a slight chance of showers, and possibly an isolated thunderstorm over far northwestern Illinois after midnight. The overnight low will be in the low to middle 60's. On Sunday the disturbance to our west will move into the Stateline, and scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop. Only about 30% coverage is expected, so very little relief from the severe drought will happen with this system. The high temperature on Sunday will be around 86 degrees.  No exceptionally hot weather is expected next week.  That said... it will still be quite warm with every day through next weekend remaining above average with highs in the upper 80's and lows in the mid to upper 60's.  Chances of rainfall will remain low with the next chance of rain on Thursday and Thursday night.  Rainfall amounts forecast for the next week will also be low with general amounts no more than half an inch.  The severe drought will not have much chance for improvement during the next week.

Warm Weather Setting More Records

Current streak is ongoing. Info as of 7/27/12

It's no surprise that this summer's heat has been unusual. Here's another example. Rockford is experiencing one of the longest streaks of 80 degree days on record. As of Friday, we are at 44 straight days of highs at or above 80 degrees.

Look for us to keep moving up that list over the course of the next week. The current forecast shows a nice weekend with highs back into the 90s starting Monday.

While the all-time record might be tough to break (We would have to stay in the 80s through Sept. 8th), we could easily move into second place if warm temps hold through the next two weeks.

Stuck in the middle

We'll remain sandwiched between a ridge of high pressure in the west and a trough of low pressure in the east next week.  This leaves the middle of the country with extreme heat while closer to home it looks like we'll actually remain near or slightly above average.  Temperatures next week are forecast to remain in the upper 80s to near 90 degrees.

The placement of the jetstream overhead will allow subtle upper level disturbances to move through the western Great Lakes which will increase the probability of rainfall extending from Minnesota southeast into the Mid-Atlantic.  While no one day will be a complete washout and we'll likely see many dry hours, the daily chance for showers/storms will remain through the end of next week.

Thursday Storm Update

4:27pm Update: A Severe T-Storm Warning continues to Lee and southeast Ogle (including Rochelle) counties until 4:45pm. Storms are moving out of Rochelle and Ogle county as we speak, with the majority of storms still moving through Lee.

Cities in the path of this storm over the next 10-15 minutes include:
Sublette, Compton, Paw Paw, and Lee.

Storms are capable of 60mph winds and some hail.

4:00pm Update: A Severe T-Storm Warning is now in effect for Ogle and Lee Counties until 4:45pm. These storms are capable of quarter-sized hail and 60mph winds. Storms in Whiteside County are also strong, but no warning at this point. Those storms are capable of 55mph winds.


Cities in the path of these storms include:
Rochelle and Amboy - 4:05pm
Paw Paw - 4:35pm
Whiteside Storms:
Walnut - 4:15

3:30pm Update: Storms are currently moving across the central parts of the viewing area, with a line going from Rockford to Sterling. While there are no warnings with these storms, they could produce 0.50" hail and 50mph winds. The strongest of the storms are currently moving into Ogle County. We have already received reports of small hail in parts of Ogle County.

Stay with us through the afternoon for the latest on these developing storms.

Possible weather watch needed for parts of the area

A severe weather watch may be issued for parts of Wisconsin and possibly extreme northern Illinois this afternoon.  High dew points and an approaching low will keep the threat for scattered thunderstorms; especially later this afternoon and evening.  The greatest threat will reside in Wisconsin but with such a moisture rich atmosphere there may be a few storms that develop south into Illinois.  Greatest threat from these storms would be hail and occasional wind gusts.

Weather update found here

Due to technical difficulties this morning, WTVO is staying with national ABC until further notice.  Until we're back up and running the forecast can be found here:

Thunderstorms that moved through overnight and early this morning will continue to march east by mid-morning with a few breaks coming in the cloud cover.  Until then showers moving in from the southwest will continue through 8am-9am.  While the strongest storms remained north in Wisconsin a gust front produced wind gusts between 55mph and 60mph roughly between 12:30am and 1:30am.  This was enough to bend a few tree branches and even bringing down a few of those tree branches.

Temperatures this morning are starting off in the low 70s and with a few of those breaks expected highs look to rise in the upper 80s close to 90°.  A weak upper level disturbance will move in from the northwest this afternoon and with a little lingering moisture around that may be enough to generate a pop up thunderstorm or two by late afternoon and evening.  A secondary cold front will sweep through overnight and bring drier air to the Stateline by Friday.  Temperatures will remain in the mid 80s Friday with the mid and upper 80s by the weekend.  By next week the jetstream will be positioned from northwest to southeast with a few subtle little disturbances rippling through.  This will keep temperatures in the upper 80s with a few isolated storm chances Sunday through next Wednesday.