Stateline Breaks Temperature Records

Ironically Rockford and Eastern North Carolina (where I grew up) were actually about the same temperature today: Lower 60's. I definately felt like I was back in the South. Today Rockford reached 60 degrees which shattered the record for Jan. 6th. The record was set in 1949 with only 49 degrees. But don't worry...spring temps won't last very long.

Also...the weather team got an email today from a Lyle Hopkins, a farmer from Polo. He says after years of being a farmer with livestock..he says since the ground is not frozen under the snow...most of the snow would soak in. He says after caring for cows out on corn stalks as well as plowing snow...there is very little frost where the snow has covered the ground.

That may be true...but the National Weather Service out of the Quad Cities and Chicago have issued a Flood Watch for Monday evening through Tuesday afternoon for the following cities in across the Stateline:

Rockford
Oregon
Dixon
DeKalb
Galena
Freeport
Mount Carroll
Sterling


Here is what the Weather Services had to say:
Unseasonably warm temperatures have resulted in the melting of most of the snow pack across the region. This moisture has left the stream and creeks running high..and in some cases near bank full. Rainfall amounts of one to two inches are likely from late tonight through Tuesday...with the heaviest rainfall expected Monday night into Tuesday morning.

Given the saturated soils and nearly frozen ground...any heavy rainfall would result in nearly immediate runoff. The forecasted rainfall amounts would likely result in flooding of low lying and flood prone areas...including many of the smaller creeks and streams across the region. Runoff would also eventually result in flooding of some of the larger main stem rivers.