Are We Close to Rockford’s First Frost? Here’s What Forecast Says

Windows open at night, wearing hoodies, cool and crisp air. If you're like me, this is the time of year you've been waiting for. But when will it be time to turn on the heat for the first time?

The Forecast is Getting Cooler

I've been watching the extended forecast from the National Weather Service for the Rockford area, and there's a noticeable temperature drop coming now that we've turned the calendar to October.

The forecast calls for another rainy day on Thursday, with parts of northeast Illinois under a Flash Flood Watch through Thursday night (10/1), where 1 to 3 inches of rain are possible after 1 to 3 inches have already fallen on Wednesday.

Highs are expected in the upper 60s on Thursday, with Friday expected to reach about 64, followed by sunny conditions on Saturday and Sunday when highs are forecast to be in the mid to upper 60s.

When Could First Frost Arrive?

The NWS forecast calls for lows around 41 degrees this Friday night (10/2), 40 on Sunday night (10/4), and down to 39 on Monday night (10/5).

While that's jacket and coffee weather, we're not quite at our first frost, but the National Weather Service says Rockford could be getting close, with the average autumn freeze happening around October 13, based on 1991 to 2020 climate data.

Just looking at the October normal temperatures for Rockford, you can see how quickly things can change, with the average low temp going from 47.2 on October 1 down to 36.5 degrees by October 31.

When Do You Turn On Your Heat?

Enjoy opening up your windows for now, because the furnace may get its first workout soon enough. How cool does it have to be until you finally crank up your heater for the first time?