REFRESHING SUMMER COLD FRONT COMING

We all got a nice drink of water late last week and as we head into Wednesday we are likely to see even more rainfall for the region. Radar estimates pushed higher than 3" across east-central Iowa and southern Wisconsin, with widespread rainfall totals os 2" across eastern Iowa and northern Illinois.

This will follow a cold front that is forecast to sweep through the area Wednesday. Forecast trends are bringing temperatures potentially into the 70s for highs Wednesday, and barely breaking 80 on Thursday.

The cold front is forecast to bring light to moderate rain showers, and perhaps a thunderstorm, mainly Wednesday morning and early afternoon. Severe weather is not anticipated. Rainfall totals will likely be in the 1-2" range across Iowa and northern Illinois. 

Wednesday afternoon, temperatures are likely running close to 10 degrees below normal across the area directly behind the cold front.

We are still well in the midst of summer so you can't keep the heat away for long. By next weekend, upper-level ridging is forecast to return which will allow the heat to return to the region. Highs in the mid-to-upper 80s will return.

If you have been holding off on yard work or any outdoor work, midweek looks like an excellent day to get it done with some refreshingly cool air for this time of year.

-Meteorologist Nick Stewart