Temperatures slowly warming through the week

 Even though some of the cooler weather we've had has been a nice stretch, more average and summer like temperatures look to return as we head towards the middle of the week. If we were to hit the 80's this week, that would be our first time hitting that mark since August 20th!

Today however, we'll still see temperatures well below average with our daily high only expected to get into the upper 60's. Unlike the past few days though high pressure will move in today keeping us dry as well as allowing for calmer winds at the surface. This should be our last day in the 60's for at least a little bit as a warming trend is expected.

Over the next 3 days temperatures will reach back into the 70's and may even make a run at the 80's by Wednesday with this pattern lasting through the weekend. With the return of winds out of the south, those will gradually help us reach back near our daily average this week.

Even with warmer temperatures and slightly higher moisture available in our atmosphere we'll still remain mostly dry heading through the week. Our highest chance seems to arrive on Tuesday in the form of a few passing showers, however higher chances don't look to return until at least next weekend. 

Slow warming trend early next week

 After a chilly start to the month with multiple days of highs in the 60s, we will finally see a warm-up again early next week. High temperatures will reach the mid-70s Monday and upper 70s Tuesday with only spotty rain chances this week.

The first of which comes with scattered showers Tuesday into early Wednesday. Most of the moisture will be situated North and West of Rockford, with only small chances for isolated showers here. Any rain that falls will likely remain under 0.25" accumulation.

We will stick with a warmer trend into the rest of the week, with forecast high temperatures remaining in the upper 70s or higher even into next weekend. Scattered shower chances return over next weekend as well.

Breezy and cool to start the fall-like weekend

 It was a borderline windy day in the Stateline, with a few wind gusts reaching 30 mph at times Friday. Winds will ease Friday night as the sun sets, but we could see gusts return to around 20-25 mph at times Saturday afternoon.

This will keep the cooler weather around, with highs only in the mid-60s and lows in the 40s each of the next couple days. Saturday and Sunday will be almost copycat days of Friday, but with a decreasing wind day after day.

There is a small chance for a couple isolated sprinkles across Southern Wisconsin and far Northern Illinois Saturday afternoon and evening. Any rain we see will have a hard time working toward the ground with drier air near the surface.

Rain chances are few and far between for much of next week, but we will see a rising temperature trend with highs returning to the 70s and even near 80° again by mid-week.

Gusty winds stick around, making for a well-below average Friday

Northern Illinois felt more of a breeze yesterday following the passage of cold front #1. For some this morning, winds are still breezy after we saw another cold front slide through overnight. 

 

 

A gusty wind will be present throughout the entirety of our Friday, blowing out of the southwest at first before switching to the west this afternoon. The strongest winds will be felt before midday, gusting up of 30-35 mph. This will leave afternoon highs well below-average in the upper 60s. With this morning's wind comes some cloud cover, though we can expect a decrease in clouds by the afternoon. 

 

Skies remain quiet overnight, which will allow low temperatures to bottom out into the low 40s. Saturday's chilly start will pave the way for another below-average afternoon with highs in the upper 60s. With tomorrow's cloud cover may come an isolated sprinkle. Odds of that are extremely low, with conditions staying dry for Sunday as high pressure dives in from the northwest.

Fall-like weekend with chilly overnights

 Temperatures Thursday afternoon didn't make it out of the 60s area-wide, and we can expect more of the same this weekend. Afternoon highs in the mid-60s are forecasted for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Overnight lows may again reach down into the 40s, similar to what we saw Thursday morning. This is much closer to average for early October, not early September!

But the chill is relatively short-lived, as we will see a rebound early next week. Large upper-level trough responsible for the chill will slide back to the East, allowing milder air to take over by the middle of the week. Afternoon highs will be pushing the upper 70s Tuesday and Wednesday.

Scattered showers and strong winds arrive with cold front tonight

 After a cool fall-like day in the Stateline, another cold front will bring a round of wildfire smoke, rain, and winds overnight. The front itself will approach toward midnight. A brief round of wildfire smoke may be drawn in along that front, with a small bit of it near the surface. Any smoke we end up with will be quick to exit East into Friday afternoon as the front pushes the smoke away.

Strong winds will accompany the front, with Southwesterly wind gusts approaching 30-35 mph at times after 10-11PM. Behind the front, gusts may remain near or above 30 mph into the early morning hours of Friday. There is a small chance for a few bursts of wind gusts near 40 mph as well.

With the Southwesterly direction of the wind and added cloud cover along the front, temperatures will only drop to the low 50s tonight. Most of the night will be spent with temperatures in the mid to upper 50s, however. Scattered showers will be possible between 11PM-3AM, but we will dry out into the morning.

October-like chill to linger into the weekend

Boy oh boy! That first step out the door this morning will have you asking "what month is it?" because it sure doesn't feel like September. 

Behind yesterday's cold front, temperatures are sitting 15 to 20 cooler compared to 24 hours ago, in the low to mid 40s. Lows as cool as this are typically what we fell in October, not September. So be sure to grab an extra layer before heading out.

This October-like morning will pave the way for a October-like afternoon as temperatures will be highly restrictively to the mid to upper 60s. We do see quite a bit of sunshine throughout the day as well as an organized breeze out of the west-southwest. At times, we could see winds up to 20 mph. 

Further to the northwest is where you will find our next cold front. Forecast models quickly bring this system southeastward, landing in central Wisconsin overnight into Friday morning. With it will be the chance for a few light showers. However, I do believe the higher chance for organized rainfall will be well to our north, closer to the actual low.

  

The associated cold front is schedule to pass through shortly before sunrise, which will help keep this very cool air mass into the upcoming weekend. Winds will be a bit stronger Friday, gusting out of the west at 30 to possibly 35 mph at times. This will keep afternoon highs in the low 60s to round out the work week with upper 60s for Saturday and Sunday.