FIRST ALERT: Dangerous cold to continue overnight, Tuesday

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) – For more than 48 hours, the Stateline has found itself with temperatures below 0°, and there’s little doubt that we’ll tack on several more hours to that streak Monday night and for a good part of Tuesday.

There ARE less frigid days in our future, though we’ve got some brutally cold conditions still to endure. Wind Chill Warnings and Advisories remain intact for Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin through Tuesday morning, after which point the entire area will be under an advisory through Wednesday morning.

Wind chill warnings and advisories will remain in effect through Wednesday.(Mark Henderson, WIFR)

Skies are in the process of clearing throughout the Stateline Monday evening, which will allow temperatures to dip back into the teens below zero, and wind chills are, in all likelihood, ticketed for -30° or worse by Tuesday morning. That’s why it comes as no surprise that our newsroom was again flooded Monday by reports of school closings for Tuesday.

It will be a dangerously cold start to Tuesday.(Mark Henderson, WIFR)

Despite there being a good deal of sunshine Tuesday, temperatures will continue to struggle, though we should find ourselves able to briefly reach into positive territory, as high temperatures should make it up to around 3°. Wind chills, however, won’t come anywhere close to 0°.

More sunshine is on tap Tuesday.(Mark Henderson, WIFR)Another brutally cold day is on tap Tuesday.(Mark Henderson, WIFR)Wind chills are to remain in dangerous territory again Tuesday and Tuesday night.(Mark Henderson, WIFR)

We’ll quickly fall below zero once again Tuesday night, though a southwesterly wind should limit the amount of cooling that takes place. That, combined with lighter breezes should take a bit of the sting out of the air, but it won’t be balmy, by any stretch of the imagination.

Lighter winds should allow for less severe wind chills Tuesday night.(Mark Henderson, WIFR)Things will improve, but only slightly Wednesday morning.(Mark Henderson, WIFR)

More substantial “warming” is to take place Wednesday on the heels of an increasingly well-organized southwesterly wind. We’ll find ourselves, at long last, back in the teens by the afternoon, and wind chills may even climb back above zero for a time!

More clouds are to arrive later in the day Wednesday.(Mark Henderson, WIFR)

A second straight 14° high is forecast for Thursday, though another cold front is to pass through, bringing with it another chance for snow Thursday night, and a fresh shot of bitterly cold air is to follow Friday and Saturday.

Sunshine and clouds are to be with us Thursday, with snow possibly to follow.(Mark Henderson, WIFR)

Once we get through sub-zero nights Friday night and Saturday night, a major pattern shift is to get underway beginning on Sunday. We’ll reach the 20s on Sunday, the 30s Monday, and it’s possible we string together multiple 40°+ days next Tuesday-Thursday. It’s part of a pattern that looks to be warmer than normal to close out the month of January.

The chill will ease next week.(Mark Henderson, WIFR)

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