Gusty Winds Expected Tuesday Night into Wednesday

West winds have been increasing following a cold front Tuesday evening, gusting to 35 mph at times. Cold air has also been quickly moving in with temperatures falling from the 60s Tuesday afternoon, down into the low 50s in some locations as of 6pm.

Temperatures will continue to drop tonight, but the wind and increasing cloud cover will keep us from bottoming out too much Wednesday

morning. Overnight lows will settle on either side of 40 degrees. Wind chills, however, will dip down into the low 30s Wednesday morning and only climb into the mid 40s Wednesday afternoon.

Winds will be strongest through early Wednesday afternoon before subsiding some Wednesday night. Patchy frost may be possible early Thursday morning.

Light Rain Returns Tuesday

Clouds will gradually increase late Monday night and Tuesday morning ahead of an area of low pressure system. As the low approaches by daybreak Tuesday showers, and even an isolated thunderstorm, will be possible mid to late morning.

Moisture does increase Tuesday morning, but the rain is expected to be light and for most under a couple tenths of an inch. Skies will remain mostly cloudy through the afternoon and evening. A cold front is quick to follow Tuesday evening with another shot of cold air arriving Wednesday.

Frost Advisory Sunday Night

A Frost Advisory has been issued for the majority of northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin beginning late Sunday night, lasting through Monday morning. Skies will remain mostly cloudy through much of Sunday evening, turning partly cloudy by daybreak Monday.

Temperatures are slowly falling through the low to mid 40s, but will drop into the low 30s Monday morning under clearing skies. As high pressure approaches from the west, winds will begin to lighten up through the night. The combination of temperatures in the low 30s, clearing skies and light winds will likely lead to frost for most Monday morning. You'll need to cover, or bring in, any plants or vegetation that may be sensitive to the cold. It's unlikely that temperatures will drop into the upper 20s, so we shouldn't have to be concerned with a killing freeze just yet.

Freeze Warning Goes into Effect Tomorrow Morning

Earlier this morning, the National Weather Service upgraded the entire Stateline area from a Freeze Watch to a Freeze Warning. This warning will begin at overnight tonight at 2 a.m and stretch until 9 a.m Saturday morning. A freeze warning is typically issued when significant, widespread freezing temperatures are EXPECTED for a certain area. 

A very strong cold front pushed through the region this morning which has allowed a very cold air mass to settle into the Stateline. As of a result, we have seen a significant drop in our temperatures over the past few hours. In fact, most spots are seeing a 15-25° temperature difference since 5 o'clock this morning. Temperatures before the front were still sitting in the 60s, but now have dropped into the 40s, even upper 30s in spots.

Temperatures are mostly likely going to fall into the 30s by this evening. For all of you that are going to any high football games later today, it's going to be chilly and windy. So dress warm and bundle up before heading out to the stadium. Overnight lows will hover around the freezing mark (32°). With that said, be sure to bring indoors, or cover, anything that may be sensitive to the cold including any plants or vegetation. The freezing temperatures could put an end to the growing season. If you have a history of bursting pipes in your household, make sure the pipes are wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly. Lastly. for those who have in-ground sprinkler systems should drain them and cover above-ground pipes to protect them from freezing!

Freeze Watch Friday Night

A Freeze Watch will go into effect late Friday night, lasting through Saturday morning, for most of southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. A very strong cold front stretches from Minnesota, through central Iowa and into northwest Missouri Thursday evening. Temperatures ahead of the front have warmed into the upper 60s and low 70s, but drop significantly behind the front in the 30s and 20s.

Scattered showers will continue Thursday night with a few isolated thunderstorm possible early Friday morning. Southerly winds will keep temperatures in the mid 60s overnight Thursday and very early Friday, but as the cold front moves through temperatures will drop rapidly during the morning. By mid-morning temperatures will fall into the mid 50s, down near 50 degrees at Noon and then in the 40s through early afternoon. 

West winds will increase following the front, gusting to 30 mph. This will push wind chills down into the 30s by sunset and then into the low to mid 20s by Saturday morning. Be sure to bring indoors, or cover, anything that may be sensitive to the cold. The freezing temperatures could put an end to the growing season.

Morning Sunshine Gives Way to Late Day Rain Chances

Mother nature did her best this morning to make sure we saw some positive weather before rain chances arrive later on. A few breaks in the clouds allowed for a decent amount of sunshine, and we even had a heavenly sunrise to start off the day.

With that said, don't let these dry conditions fool you. Skies will be become cloudy once again and the batch of showers that are currently moving through central Iowa will move into the region by this afternoon. Before leaving your house, make sure your rain gear is handy. Despite the increasingly cloudy skies and afternoon rain chances, highs will climb into the lower 70’s ahead of tomorrow’s cold front. It will be a bit windy throughout the day as well. A strengthening and deepening low pressure system will cause the pressure at the surface to tighten up a bit. This will cause winds out of the southeast to gust up to 25-30 mph at times today. Enjoy the warm temperatures today as much as you can, because today is going to be the warmest day of the current 7 day forecast.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms will be likely overnight into early Friday morning as the potent cold front approaches. Areas along the rivers are still experiencing moderate flooding conditions, so additional rainfall could lead to rises along already swollen rivers. If there is any good news with this upcoming rain, these showers will be quick to move in and out. We won't see hefty rainfall totals when this is all said and done, but some of us could see as much as a half to three-quarters of an inch.

Model guidance has been consistent with the cold front passing through earlier than expected. It seems that the front should be passing through during the morning commute and into the mid-morning hours. Behind that cold front, the first breath of winter is soon to follow. Believe it or not, our high temperature tomorrow will happen early on in the day. Most of us will start out in the low 60s.

As the cold front slices through the Stateline, temperatures will begin to tumble into the 40’s by Friday evening. It would be a wise idea to dress warm before heading out the door tomorrow morning. It may not feel chilly as you head to school or to work, but temperatures are set to quickly plummet as the day progresses. On top of the big chill that moves in Friday, the winds will continue to be gusty after the cold frontal passage. Wind gusts Friday into Saturday could be as high as 30 to 35 mph.

As temperatures drop overnight Friday into Saturday, the threat for frost and a killing freeze develops. Overnight lows will be in the 30s. But because you have strong westerly winds, wind chills will drop into the 20s. For that reason, portions of the Midwest, including the western counties of the viewing area, will be under a freeze watch starting tomorrow evening and stretching into Saturday morning.

Tumbling Temperatures Friday

A strong cold front will trek across the country, reaching northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin Friday morning. Ahead of the front, temperatures will warm into the upper 60s and low 70s Thursday afternoon and briefly Friday morning.

Showers and isolated thunderstorms will be likely, especially Thursday night and Friday morning. The cold front will pass through the Stateline before Noon, shifting winds around to the west for the remainder of the afternoon. Wind-driven showers will continue into the afternoon but should come to an end a little after sunset.

A cold air mass will filter in behind the front with temperatures falling from the low to mid 60s early Friday morning, down into the 50s Friday afternoon and then into the 40s by Friday evening. Overnight lows will dip into the low to mid 30s area wide, with some locations possibly reaching the freezing mark by Saturday morning. Winds will remain strong through the morning and this will push wind chills down into the 20s! We likely won't see frost Friday night because of the cloud cover and blustery winds, and even Saturday night will see some cloud cover. Winds should settle a little more Sunday night, however, and this could prove to be a better chance for frost development.

Heading out the door Friday you'll want to dress for what the weather will be like during the afternoon, and not what you'll feel Friday morning. It'll be cool in the morning, but colder by Friday late afternoon.