Judging by the weather outside alone, you'd probably mistake today for March 4 instead of February, but the unseasonably warm start to the month continues into next week.
Patchy fog is expected to dissipate this morning, with a frosty start to the day again. As the overnight clouds disappear, expect partly sunny skies for the rest of the day, helping temperatures rise into the middle to upper 40s again, about 15-20 degrees above average.
Much of next week will see similar conditions, although a gradual increase in cloud cover is expected. Skies will likely be partly cloudy Monday and Tuesday, with high temperatures staying in the low to mid 40s, though we can still expect to see plenty of sunshine.
In the middle of the week, as a ridge of high pressure centers overhead, warmer temperatures will be favored even as skies become cloudier. Wednesday seems the most likely to see us return to the 50s, perhaps even breaking the record of 52 degrees set in 2009.
Warmer weather comes toward Thursday, but the eastward movement of the hills puts us in a good spot for rain. Some showers will likely appear Thursday night into Friday morning, although we are not expecting much in terms of precipitation.
With warmer than average temperatures continuing, even as highs dip into the 30s and upper 40s next weekend, this will likely be the warmest start to February on record in Rockford's recorded history! Make sure to stay warm while you're here, as it's not often we get picnic weather in February.
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