The intense heat dome that smothered us Sunday and Monday, produced oppressive humidity and extreme heat index values. Below on the left is a list of maximum temperatures recorded across the area. Most areas remained in the range of 93-97 which is nothing out of line for July. However, Keokuk deserves some recognition for its top reading of 100 degrees which is a pretty big accomplisment! What really drove the heat to stiffling levels was the dew points (the measure of water

Some remarkble air is in place over the Midwest Monday with several locations registering 80-degree dewpoints. Some locations in west-central Illinois are toppin near 85 which is an all-time record measurment for places like Macomb, Illinois. This humid air sticks around Monday with heat indices likely topping 110° in spots as dangerous heat continues. Some relief is inbound through with a weak cold front Monday night. That front could also be the focus for some potential sto

The heat is back in full force as we head into the last days of July and early August as a stubborn ridge in the jet stream refuses to budge. We will be on the eastern side of that ridge which likely keeps the worst of the heat just to the west, but either way above normal temperatures are certainly coming in. Analogs (above) show a greater than 80% chance for above normal temperatures in the period July 30-August 2, and this will likely continue well into the first full week

Heading into the "DOG DAYS", the time of year when stagnent weather patterns loaded with heat and humidity are know to rule, our weather couldn't be finer. High pressure drifting across SW Wisconsin has been the catalyst to force a surge of unusually dry (muggy free air) into the region. Dew points which were oppressive at 76-80 Monday, have steadily been falling and today Rockford bottomed out dropping to a DPT of 42! Many spots from NW Iowa into Wisconsin and Illinois inche

After a two week stretch of dry and largely above normal temperatures, Monday's front brought storms and rain to most spots along with a cooler brand of weather. Tuesday's highs were back in the upper 70s to low 80s with dew points at least 15 degrees lower in the range of 60-65. With a brisk NW wind it actually felt fresh, more like a mid to late August day. Monday's storms came in two bursts, one in the morning, the other in the afternoon and evening. Tornado watches were i