Much cooler weather settles into Stateline to round out work week

ROCKFORD (WREX) — A cold front slid through the Stateline early yesterday afternoon. It came through with relatively little fanfare, but you’ll definitely notice its passage this morning.

Temperatures are starting on either side of 30°. Areas like Freeport and Monroe, WI, are starting the day in the middle and upper 20s. Areas closer to the I-88 corridor are closer to 30°, but wind chills area-wide are in the upper teens. Northwesterly winds continue at between 10 and 15 mph through the early morning, keeping those near-20° wind chills around through 9 a.m.

High pressure is sliding into the region and that means plenty of sunshine for today. Some high cloudiness may try to sneak into the region by later this afternoon, but shouldn’t completely cover the sky. Temperatures this afternoon climb into the upper 30s, which is seasonably cool. A slow warm-up is ahead for this weekend.

Cirrus clouds move in overnight as a system currently near the Rockies draws closer to the Midwest. While we remain dry in northern Illinois, a few stray snow showers cannot be ruled out across central Illinois. Any local travel this weekend should remain quiet and stress-free where the weather is concerned. The same cannot be said nation-wide.

If you’re traveling this weekend ahead of Thanksgiving, it looks like a few travel trouble spots are possible across the country.

Saturday those trouble spots are located near St. Louis, central Illinois, and much of the Ohio River Valley. North of the Ohio River, wintry weather could lead to slick roads and increased commute times. South of that, rain and even thunderstorms are possible from Kentucky to Alabama to the Carolinas.

Sunday brings wintry conditions to the interior portions of the Northeast and New England. A mix of wintry weather, including the dreaded freezing rain, are likely from Pennsylvania to Vermont. Along the immediate East Coast, in cities like Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston, it looks like a rain event for the second half of the weekend.