Advisories and Watches in place for Upcoming Cold and Snow

More winter weather on the way for the Stateline area causing several watches and advisories to be in place.

The first is a Wind Chill Advisory that will go into effect for the entire Stateline late Sunday night through Monday morning with wind chills down to -25 possible Monday morning. Winds will increase from the northwest, gusting up to 30mph, creating dangerous wind chills. If you have to travel or go outside make sure to dress accordingly and cover all exposed parts, frostbite can occur quickly under these conditions.

The second is a Winter Storm Warning that will go into effect for Jo Daviess, Carroll, Whiteside, and Stephenson Counties Monday at 6pm and will last until Tuesday morning. A fast moving Alberta clipper will track across the Midwest dumping snow across the area. These counties look to pick up more snow than other counties, 4-6" is expected with locally more possible.


A Winter Storm Watch will go into effect for the rest of the Stateline Monday night through Tuesday morning with the first big snow of the season on the way associated with a low pressure system out of Canada. Current forecasts show about 3-5" of snow expected, with locally heavier amounts possible.

If the low's track shifts, this could also shift the heavier bands of snow. We will continue to track this system and post updates.

The pink in the photo is the Winter Storm Warning for Monday night. The blue depicts the Winter Storm Watch for Monday night. The Wind Chill Advisory is in effect for the entire Stateline tonight through Monday morning.

Weather Update for Saturday Evening into Sunday

After morning and afternoon rain, freezing rain, sleet, and snow fairly quiet weather is in place at least for now, but there is more snow on the way. For the first part of the evening, through about midnight, there is still the chance for patchy light freezing drizzle to move through as temperatures hover near the freezing mark. This will still allow for a light glaze on roadways, especially untreated and less traveled roads, so you'll want to use caution while driving.



After midnight tonight is when the majority of the snow will move into the Stateline area, on the backside of a low pressure system that brought the snow and freezing rain earlier. Snow fall totals will be near 1-2" but up to 3" is possible through Sunday morning. Snow will linger through the early afternoon on Sunday.

Driving conditions will still be at moderate, because winds will begin to pick up in the early afternoon from the north west. Winds will be anywhere from 15-25 mph but will gust up to 30 mph at times creating a blowing snow hazard through the afternoon. As cold air moves in Sunday and wind increase, temperatures will fall into the lower teens and single digits by the late afternoon. Cold air combined with blustery winds will create very cold windchills for the Stateline area, anywhere from -5° to -15°.

Currently there are no advisories or warnings for the Stateline area.

Saturday Update

UPDATE: Weather Service has cancelled the Winter Weather Advisory for Rock County Wisconsin with majority of mixed precipitation out of the area. But, areas of mixed light rain, light snow, and light sleet with continue for the next hour or two as temperatures warm and drier air works in for areas east of Rockford.

UPDATE: Dry air moving into the area allowing for a break in the precip for most of us. This allows for the Winter Weather Advisory to expire for all of the Stateline except for Rock and Walworth counties in Wisconsin which are in effect until 6pm tonight.








UPDATE: Current shot of the radar showing the majority of the rain south of Rockford through the majority of Ogle, Lee, and Dekalb counties. Though not much ice or snow accumulation is expected, it is enough to make some slick spots on roadways, especially those that are untreated. For updated road conditions head over here: http://wrc.gettingaroundillinois.com/pages/wrc.htm

Freezing rain mixed with rain and light snow continues to move northeast across the Stateline area with temperatures near freezing around the Rockford area. Slightly warmer temperatures south and east of Rockford is allowing for more rain than freezing rain or snow; temperatures will continue to warm through the late afternoon allowing the mix to chance over to rain. A dry slot will move into the area in the late afternoon and early evening allowing for a break in some of the precipitation.


Viewer photo from this morning:

VIDEO UPDATE: Weekend Winter Storm

Here is the latest look at our next storm system that is expected to bring wintry mix, freezing rain, and snow to the Stateline this weekend. -BA

Weekend Forecast (Updated Friday Evening):

Saturday - Wintry mix likely with freezing rain possible for the morning and afternoon. A brief period of rain/mostly rain possible late in the afternoon as highs warm just above freezing.

Saturday Night - Snow likely, with 1-3" possible by Sunday morning.

Sunday - Chance of snow in the morning. Blowing snow possible with temperatures falling throughout the day.

Arctic air next week following weekend storm

UPDATE:
A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for Rock and Walworth counties in southern Wisconsin and for Winnebago, Boone, McHenry, Ogle, Lee and DeKalb counties in northern Illinois beginning early Saturday morning.  A mix of sleet & snow is likely tonight with little accumulation with freezing rain developing by Saturday afternoon.



After finishing the 8th coldest year on record in Rockford, Mother Nature has decided to start the first full week of the new year off with some very cold air.  It's going to be a one, two, three punch over the next week with the first round coming this weekend.

As was discussed in an earlier blog post (read it here), a winter storm is set to take shape across the Plains and Midwest.  That will be followed by bitter cold for the start of school next week, followed up by another bout of snow and then more cold!

Weekend system still looks on track with a mix of snow, sleet, freezing rain and rain coming in by Saturday afternoon.  An initial surge of moisture with a disturbance moving through Iowa may bring a light mix of snow & sleet across northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin Saturday morning.  Little accumulation is expected.  By late morning and afternoon, temperatures will warm very close to the freezing mark which could increase the threat for freezing rain during the afternoon in northern Illinois.   The temperature profile throughout the atmosphere continues to show a shallow warm layer a few thousand feet above with south winds, but surface temperatures will range from roughly 32° to 35°.  While it may be raining up above, it could freeze on contact causing a thin glaze of ice to form.  Should we receive freezing rain, totals near 0.10" to 0.15" will be possible.  Just enough to cause slick roadways.  Accumulating snow is still possible Saturday night before ending Sunday morning.  Snow accumulations by Sunday morning could be 2" to 3".

Travel will become impacted throughout Saturday, especially if we receive more freezing rain than just rain.  So keep that in mind if you're going to be out. 

Behind this system, cold air is set to arrive with a vengeance Sunday afternoon.  Temperatures will fall throughout the day dropping to below zero by Sunday night.  Winds will also coming howling in from the north Sunday and Sunday night.  With the actual air temperature falling below zero, this puts wind chills Monday morning in the -25° to -15° range.  A rude awakening for students heading back to school. 

Another round of snow is expected Monday night and Tuesday with a clipper system.  This, too, has the potential for accumulating snowfall which will only aid in Wednesday's extreme cold!  High temperatures on Wednesday will only be 3° with winds chills down to -25° during the day!  Thankfully it won't last as we'll get back into the upper 20's by the end of the week.

A look back at a chilly 2014

Many will remember the year 2014 as a cold one, especially the winter season.  Summer really lacked any warmth as well, and what should typically be the hottest month of the year, July ended up being the 3rd coolest in Rockford.  Here is a monthly breakdown of 2014, courtesy of the Chicago National Weather Service:

January
Record daily lowest minimum temperature of -18° on the 3rd
8th coldest January on record since 1906 at 12.0°

February
Record daily lowest minimum temperature of -21° on the 11th
Record daily lowest maximum temperature of 15° on the 27th
3rd coldest February on record since 1906 at 12.4°

March
Record daily snowfall of 4.6" on the 1st
Record daily lowest maximum temperature of 9° on the 2nd
Record daily lowest maximum temperature of 15° on the 3rd
Record daily lowest minimum temperature of -11° on the 3rd

April
Record daily precipitation of 1.21" on the 13th

May
Tied record daily snowfall of a trace on the 5th (1932)
Record daily snowfall of a trace on the 16th

June
No records set

July
Tied for 3rd coolest July on record since 1906 at 69.1°

August
Record daily precipitation of 1.35" on the 1st

September
Record daily lowest maximum temperature of 54° on the 11th
Record daily lowest maximum temperature of 53° on the 12th

October
Record daily lowest maximum temperature of 49° on the 4th
Record daily snowfall of a trace on the 4th
Record daily snowfall of 0.10" on the 31st (Halloween)

November
Record daily snowfall of 0.8" on the 16th
Record daily lowest maximum temperature of 19° on the 18th
Record daily lowest maximum temperature of 8° on the 18th
6th coldest November on record since 1906 at 31.9°

December
5th least snowiest December on record since 1905 with 0.10"

Seasonal:3rd coldest winter on record (2013/2014) since 1906 at 14.6°
9th snowiest winter on record (2013/2014) since 1906 with 46.5"

Yearly:
8th coldest year on record since 1906 at 46.0°
 

Wintry weather returns for the weekend and next week

Welcome to the New Year!  And even though it was cold, the weather cooperated for all those who were out celebrating.  Mother Nature may not have the same thing in mind for the weekend, though.

Low pressure that will bring snow to the southwest and freezing rain to Texas and Oklahoma will bring a wintry mix of weather Saturday and possibly accumulating snowfall Saturday night.  There are still many details that need to come together, but we're starting to get a little better picture of what could happen this weekend.

As it looks Thursday morning, early Saturday will start off dry but precipitation will begin to fall as early as 9am south of Rockford.  A mixture of snow and sleet will be possible during

the morning from Rockford on south and east with a little more mild air wrapping into the low.  Along and west of a line from Monroe to Freeport to Dixon could see mainly snow with temperatures remaining below freezing.  By midday Saturday, freezing rain could mix in with the snow and sleet before switching over to snow by Saturday evening.  Accumulating snow is possible and at this early of a glance, a few inches are likely.  Now should the low continue to track north over the Stateline Saturday, there

would be more of a threat for a mix than snowfall.

Winds will turn gusty Sunday as the snowfall tapers off with temperatures expected to drop into the single digits by Sunday afternoon.  There is another chance for accumulating snow Monday night and Tuesday of next week.