The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for southwestern Wisconsin, northeast Iowa, and southeast Minnesota. Right now the only county in the WREX viewing area is under the watch…Green County, Wisconsin.

We’ll keep updating the blog with new information through the evening! -CANDY

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The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma may issue a Severe Thunderstorm Watch over the outlined area by 5:00pm. Thunderstorms are expected to develop in Northeastern Iowa, and drift eastward through sunset. Storms will be capable of producing large hail and damaging straight line winds. An isolated tornado will be possible, but the threat will be quite minimal. More to come as things develop. -ERIC

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The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma has issued a slight risk of severe thunderstorms across extreme northwestern Illinois. The time stamp on the graphic to the left shows it lasts until 7am, but our risk of severe weather should dissipate around midnight tonight. The main threat from any thunderstorms that do pop-up will be small hail and gusty winds. Due to the disorganization of this shortwave the thunderstorms that arise late this afternoon will not be widespread. Most storms will be isolated in nature and will be fast moving cells. The time frame on this Monday which is of main concern to me will be between 4pm and midnight. Expect rainfall totals to be fairly light, but lightning strikes to be frequent. -ADAM

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Andrew Stutzke took these pictures earlier this evening near Sterling. Gusty winds and dime sized hail were reported with this storm.

Thanks for sending in the pictures, Andrew! Keep them coming!

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The Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Lee county has been allowed to expire as it has moved out of the area.

More storms are beginning to move through northern Ogle and DeKalb counties near Oregon, Forreston, Byron, Kirkland, and Monroe Center. These could produce brief downpours, gusty winds, and quarter size hail.

No warnings have been issued yet…but if they do, we’ll be sure to update you.

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The National Weather Service has issued a SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR LEE COUNTY UNTIL 8:15PM. These storms have had a history of producing winds in excess of 50 MPH and quarter size hail. They are moving to the east/southeast around 35 to 40 MPH. The storm will be near Amboy around 8pm and Sublette around 8:10pm.

I actually had someone call in just a little bit ago and say that there are very strong winds near Dixon and along I-88 which pushed his cousin’s vehicle off into the ditch.

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Right now, as of 5:45pm, a cluster of thunderstorms moving through southwestern Wisconsin will continue to move southeast through Green, Jo Daviess, Stephenson, and Winnebago counties through 7pm. Some of the storms may become strong enough to produce a few gusts near 45-50 mph and pea-sized hail.

They are forming ahead of a cold front stretching from northern Wisconsin back through northern Iowa. This front will continue to move to the southeast through the remainder of the evening. As it does, the threat for any more rain or storms should begin to diminsh after sunset.

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As this weekend comes to a close, it’s amazing how similar it was to last weekend. The image on the left shows the high temperatures for both Saturday and Sunday of this weekend and last weekend. There was hardly any change at all to the temperatures which is a bit of a rare thing because of how much the month of April can change in temperatures. Usually for the month of April, you can go from one day being sunny and a high of 67 to the next day being a high of 36 and snowing. Hopefully this pattern of warm temperatures and sunny skies will continue for many more weekends to come. Though, the month of May is kind of like the month of April with the temperature fluxes.
-Amanda (13 Weather Intern)

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With another beautiful weekend upon us, it’s time to think about the garden. Hopefully you got out there and tilled the topsoil last weekend. Now it’s time to think about the chance of another frost and freeze. Based on climatology, we have a slight chance of seeing another frost and freeze. The average last 32°F temperature occurs in Northern Illinois right around May 1st. What are our chances of another frost? Looking at long-term computer models, I’d say there’s a 1 in 4 chance (of getting below 36°). The chance of seeing another sub-32° night is about 5%. According to the University of Illinois extension office, it is okay to get in the garden and work on asparagus, carrots, onions, peas, corn, potatoes, spinach, and radishes. For fear of another frost and freeze, you might want to wait a week or two to plant peppers, beans, pumpkins, tomatoes, and melons.

Happy gardening! -ERIC

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Many folks got a jump start on sun burn season last weekend. Don’t be in their aloe-rubbing club this weekend! The sun will be getting stronger this weekend, especially on Sunday (and Monday too). You can click here for the latest UV Index…anytime…and for anywhere in the continental U.S. Have a wonderful weekend! -ERIC

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