The Rockford region is heading into a week of heavy rain.

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) – About 0.2 inches of rain had fallen at the time of this forecast. This is just the beginning of what will be a very wet Monday. More rain will move into the region tonight. They can produce heavy rain of a quarter to a half inch. We’ll remain on the warm side as the warm front moves through and rain keeps our lows into the mid-50s.

On Monday we’ll get some relief from the rain, but there will still be some clouds overhead. I can’t rule out an occasional shower or two early in the day, but most of us should be dry throughout the day. This makes our winds a major concern throughout the day, with some gusts reaching 30 mph from the southwest. These winds will push warm, moist air across state lines, allowing highs to reach 60 degrees even with clouds overhead.

A short break during the rain on Monday(DJ Baker)

The main ticket item when it comes to these three days of rain will occur Monday evening/night. Heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected. I’ve been mentioning the possibility of strong to severe storms over the past few days, but as the models evolve, I’m not as excited about our serious chances. Instead, I think we’ll just focus on the heavy rainfall that’s likely to occur across the region. We could see near record rainfall amounts for this time of year, with 2 to 3 inches possible. Localized flooding is possible, especially in areas receiving heavier rainfall, but there are several factors that can help limit flood risks. Drought will actually benefit us because the soil is very susceptible to precipitation and absorbs a lot of moisture. The river level is lower so this won’t be a big problem. The only factor contributing to localized flooding is the amount of leaves that have fallen over the past few weeks. Storm drains can become clogged with fallen leaves, so I would recommend clearing them to reduce flooding on our roads. Lows will be in the lower 60s.

Heavy showers and light thunderstorm Monday evening(DJ Baker)

Slight risk of heavy rain on Monday(DJ Baker)

We’ll get a few showers Tuesday morning, with another chance of showers possible in the afternoon. This rain won’t be too heavy and I don’t expect anything serious from it. Showers will develop in the afternoon with a cold front moving winds out of the northwest. However, highs will still be in the mid-60s.

We’ll feel the effects of the front Tuesday night as lows drop into the 40s and skies clear.

Skies will begin to clear Tuesday evening(DJ Baker)

Very pleasant and seasonal weather is expected from Wednesday to Friday. Highs are in the mid to upper 50s with plenty of sunshine.

The weather will improve towards the end of the week(DJ Baker)

We have a chance of rain again this weekend, but the models fluctuate back and forth over time. In the meantime, get ready to have your umbrella ready this weekend.