Weather StoryAlmanac, microseasons, and the day's weather story.

Rockford, Illinois Weather

Night falls a minute earlier. Day 43 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Rockford weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

Rockford, IL
Sunday, August 2 at 9:58 AM
70
°
Overcast
Feels like
72°
Humidity
89%
Wind
11 mph
Sunrise
12:50 AM
Sunset
3:14 PM
Rockford, IL
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastRockford, IL: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 60 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit.
L 60°H 78°
Rockford, IL
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Aug 2
    Overcast
    —
    —
    78°64°—
  2. Monday
    Aug 3
    Mostly Clear
    —
    —
    84°60°+6°
  3. Tuesday
    Aug 4
    Overcast
    —
    —
    81°62°-3°
  4. Wednesday
    Aug 5
    Heavy Showers
    54%
    1.1″
    80°64°-1°
  5. Thursday
    Aug 6
    Heavy Showers
    54%
    1.2″
    80°64°0°
  6. Friday
    Aug 7
    Overcast
    —
    —
    80°62°0°
  7. Saturday
    Aug 8
    Light Drizzle
    12%
    —
    86°70°+6°
Rockford, IL
Next 24 hours · Mild now
56°69°82°12p6p12a6anow 69°high 78°low 60°
Rockford, IL
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
NNE
016° · backing 35°
Direction
NNE
016°
Sustained
11
mph
Gust
18
mph
Peak 24h
31
avg 9 mph
Beaufort · 3 · GENTLE BRZ
0
CALM
<1
1
LIGHT AIR
1–3
2
LIGHT BRZ
4–7
3
GENTLE BRZ
8–12
4
MOD BRZ
13–18
5
FRESH BRZ
19–24
6
STRONG BRZ
25–31
7
NEAR GALE
32–38
24h · sust vs gust · mph
avg 9 mph · pk 31 mph @ 1:00p
01020MPHB1B2B3B4B5-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 204SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Light breeze backing 35° from the nne.
Rockford, IL
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
986.7
+1.2 mb in 3h · rising · 29.14 inHg
Now
986.7
mb
3h
+1.2
mb
12h
+2.2
mb
24h
+4.1
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 982–987
9759809859909951000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR10201025FAIR|DRY1030-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW986.1982.0986.1
The low is filling — pressure climbing out of storm territory.
Rockford, IL
Air quality
34
AQI
Good
→-2 in 6h

AQI 34 (Good), driven by PM2.5. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±3 points). PM2.5 at 5.3 µg/m³, PM10 at 5.5 µg/m³ — typical background levels with no transport signature.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.

PM 2.5DRIVERGood
5.3μg/m³
PM 10Good
6μg/m³
NO₂Good
3μg/m³
OzoneGood
60μg/m³
UV IndexLow
1.3

What's driving it

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 5.3 µg/m³, PM10 at 5.5 µg/m³ — typical background levels with no transport signature.

PM2.5/PM10
0.96
Wind
breezy
Recent rain
0h in last 6h
Pattern
background

Trends

Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.

Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).

7-DAY AQI TREND50100SUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISATSUN7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³360
Rockford, IL
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
100%
OVERCAST
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
30.8mi
UNLIMITED
36 mi0 mi−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Earth · GOES-19 ABI
Full Disk · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 full disk Visible · GeoColor
True-color daytime, blue/IR sandwich at night
14:58 UTC · Rockford, IL · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · up to 10848 px
Continental US · GOES-19 ABI
CONUS Sector · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 CONUS Visible · GeoColor
Daytime true-color, blue-light/IR sandwich at night
14:58 UTC · Rockford, IL · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Rockford, IL
Satellite · infrared · animated
Rockford, IL
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Rockford, IL
Almanac · Sunday, August 2
Red sky at night, sailor's delight.
Civil dawn
5:19 AM
Sunrise
12:50 AM
Daylight
14h 24m
Sunset
3:14 PM
Civil dusk
8:47 PM
Planting note
Sow fall peas. Start kale and collard seedlings for fall.
Rockford, IL
The moon
Waning Gibbous
84% illuminated
Moonrise
9:40 PM
Moonset
10:02 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Rockford, IL
Microseason
Aug 1–5

Night falls a minute earlier

celestial
Jan 159% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Rockford at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 10°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: April 30 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Aug 1–5
  • Planting window: Sow fall peas. Start kale and collard seedlings for fall.

ZIP codes: 61101, 61102, 61103, 61104, 61107, 61108, 61109, 61112 +1 more

16-Day Forecast — Rockford

  1. Sun78°64°2%
  2. Mon84°60°1%
  3. Tue81°62°7%
  4. Wed80°64°54%
  5. Thu80°64°54%
  6. Fri80°62°7%
  7. Sat86°70°12%
  8. Sun88°73°22%
  9. Mon76°69°24%
  10. Tue80°66°32%
  11. Wed86°71°24%
  12. Thu87°69°22%
  13. Fri90°72°23%
  14. Sat86°65°26%
  15. Sun80°61°17%
  16. Mon81°66°25%

Forecast data from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0).

Live wind & temperature near Rockford

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of August 2, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.

SPC Convective Outlook

Storm Prediction Center — Rockford

SPC includes Rockford in the general thunderstorm area day after tomorrow — no severe risk, but storms are possible.

  • TODAYNONENo severe risk
  • TOMORROWNONENo severe risk
  • DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms

Thunderstorms possible. Not severe, but capable of producing lightning and brief heavy rain.

Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.

Sun & seasons in Rockford

Rockford sits in Winnebago County, where the year’s longest day runs 15h 16m of daylight and its shortest just 9h 5m — a swing of +6h 11m between the June and December solstices. Clocks spring forward on Sunday, March 8, 2026 and fall back on Sunday, November 1, 2026.

Chicago, the state’s largest city, lies about 76 miles to the ESE. The nearest town Rockford tracks is Lake Summerset, roughly 22 miles to the NW.

Air quality in Rockford’s county has held roughly steady since 2020; its cleanest year on record was 2025 (median AQI 40). See the full air-quality history for Rockford.

January 1–5: The year turns in silence.January 6–10: Ice thickens on still water.January 11–15: Shortest shadows lengthen.January 16–20: Pheasants begin to call.January 21–25: Springs begin to thaw.January 26–31: Chickadees announce dawn.February 1–5: East wind softens the frost.February 6–10: Sap begins to rise.February 11–15: First snowdrops appear.February 16–20: Red-winged blackbirds return.February 21–25: Rain begins to replace snow.February 26–28: Skunk cabbage pushes through ice.March 1–5: Ice withdraws from the reservoir.March 6–10: Crocuses open to weak sun.March 11–15: Peepers call from the marsh.March 16–20: Woodcocks spiral at dusk.March 21–25: Equinox — light overtakes dark.March 26–31: Forsythia opens along the fences.April 1–5: Cherry blossoms drift like snow.April 6–10: Warblers appear in the understory.April 11–15: Magnolias bloom and fall in a day.April 16–20: Dogwoods float above the forest.April 21–25: Lilacs perfume the evening.April 26–30: Last frost releases the garden.May 1–5: Warblers flood the Ramble.May 6–10: Tulip poplars light their candles.May 11–15: Shad run up the rivers.May 16–20: Roses open along the stoops.May 21–25: Firefly scouts appear at dusk.May 26–31: Strawberries ripen in the sun.June 1–5: Fireflies rise from the lawn.June 6–10: Elderflowers open in hedgerows.June 11–15: Solstice approaches — longest light.June 16–20: Honeysuckle sweetens the night.June 21–25: Solstice — the sun stands still.June 26–30: Lightning bugs drift through oaks.July 1–5: Cicadas claim the afternoon.July 6–10: Queen Anne's lace lines the roads.July 11–15: Thunder builds each afternoon.July 16–20: Corn reaches for the tassels.July 21–25: Dog days settle in the haze.July 26–31: Katydids begin their chorus.August 1–5: Night falls a minute earlier.August 6–10: Sunflowers face the morning.August 11–15: Goldenrod begins to bloom.August 16–20: Crickets pulse through warm nights.August 21–25: First cool morning surprises.August 26–31: Monarchs stage for flight.September 1–5: School buses reappear.September 6–10: Asters purple the roadsides.September 11–15: Hawk migration over the Hudson.September 16–20: Equinox — dark overtakes light.September 21–25: Apples hang heavy on the branch.September 26–30: Geese begin to chevron south.October 1–5: Witch hazel blooms as others fade.October 6–10: Maples begin to blaze.October 11–15: Frost paints the garden black.October 16–20: Oaks turn bronze and russet.October 21–25: Leaves rattle down the gutters.October 26–31: Clocks fall back — dusk at five.November 1–5: Ginkgos drop overnight.November 6–10: Last leaves cling stubbornly.November 11–15: Juncos arrive from the north.November 16–20: Bare branches reveal the sky.November 21–25: First flurries dust the rooftops.November 26–30: Woodsmoke curls through the block.December 1–5: Darkness settles before dinner.December 6–10: Holly and winterberry persist.December 11–15: Shortest day approaches.December 16–20: Ice begins to form at the edges.December 21–25: Solstice — the sun begins return.December 26–31: The year turns in silence.🌱February 14 — First skunk-cabbage spathes thaw their way up☀️March 20 — Spring equinox — day and night balance🌸April 5 — Cherry blossoms peak in the parks🐦May 10 — Warbler migration peaks along the coast✨May 25 — First fireflies scout the meadows at dusk🌞June 21 — Summer solstice — longest day🦗July 25 — Peak cicada chorus in the afternoons🌊August 18 — Warmest sea-surface temperatures of the year🍂September 22 — Autumn equinox — the slow turn❄️October 25 — First widespread frost in the suburbs🍁November 10 — Peak leaf color across the Hudson Valley🌙December 21 — Winter solstice — longest night

Microseason · August 1–5

Night falls a minute earlier

Sunset retreats perceptibly — daylight shortening speeds up.

Day 214 of 365 · Wedge 43 of 72

The solar year drawn as a wheel of 72 five-day windows. Each wedge is one microseason; the four colored arcs mark winter, spring, summer, and autumn; the small icons sit at notable phenological events. The crimson pointer creeps clockwise as the year turns.

Planting calendar

MonthPlantHarvest
January——
February——
March——
April——
Maylettuce, peas, spinach, radisheslettuce, peas, radishes
Junelettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Julytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashtomatoes, beans, summer squash
Augusttomatoes, peppers, beans, squash, fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotstomatoes, beans, summer squash
Septemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotstomatoes, beans, summer squash
October—winter squash, tomatoes (last)
November——
December——

A year in weather

Rockford peaks at about 74°F in July and bottoms near 22°F in January; June brings the heaviest rain (5.2 inches) and January the least (1.6 inches).

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January22°1.6″4
February26°1.6″4
March37°2.4″5
April49°3.8″7
May60°4.2″8
June70°5.2″8
July74°3.8″6
August72°4.2″6
September64°3.6″5
October52°2.6″5
November39°2.3″5
December27°1.9″5

Regional context

Per NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals, Rockford runs from a 22°F January mean to 74°F in July, a 52°F seasonal spread, with near 37.2 inches of precipitation across about 69 wet days.

Precipitation in Rockford runs summer-dominant: June averages 5.2 inches across 7.8 days of warm-season storms, while January drops to 1.6 inches over 4.4 rainy days of drier cool air. It is a warm-season-wet pattern Rockford shares with places like Cherry Valley, IL, New Milford, IL and Loves Park, IL.

Once Rockford passes late-May, overnight freezes fade and kale, peas, spinach, and parsnips can be sown. Rockford's heat-lovers — tomatoes, peppers, squash — hold off until Rockford's frost risk clears, 10-14 days on. By early-October, frost is back in Rockford — protect or harvest anything tender. Rockford's low ground holds frost later into spring than Rockford's benches, which run 3-5 days ahead.

Similar climates: Cherry Valley, IL, New Milford, IL, Loves Park, IL, Machesney Park, IL, Winnebago, IL.

Naturalist notes

Late May brings the return of ruby-throated hummingbirds to Rockford's gardens and woodlands.

Wild columbine typically begins blooming in forest edges and shaded areas during the final weeks of May.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Rockford?
Rockford's last spring frost lands near mid-May, and in Rockford the first fall frost follows around mid-October.
What is the rainy season in Rockford?
Rockford sees its heaviest rain in June (around 5.2 inches), part of roughly 37 inches a year.
What is the warmest month in Rockford?
Rockford peaks in July, when the mean runs near 74°F.
What is the coldest month in Rockford?
January is Rockford's coldest month, averaging about 22°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Rockford?
Hardy spring crops go in near mid-May in Rockford; tender peppers and squash wait 10–14 days.
How many rainy days does Rockford get?
Expect roughly 69 wet days a year in Rockford.
What hardiness zone is Rockford?
Because Rockford bottoms near 22°F in January, that winter low sets Rockford's USDA zone — verify by ZIP.
What is the 10-day forecast for Rockford?
Rockford's extended outlook — daily high and low temperatures and precipitation chances for each upcoming day — is in the daily forecast above.
Will it rain this week in Rockford?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Rockford in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Rockford?
Current conditions for Rockford and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Rockford forecast updated?
The Rockford forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Rockford?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Rockford are in the Almanac section above, along with civil dawn, civil dusk, and day length. Day length is longest near the summer solstice and shortest near the winter solstice.
How accurate is the weather forecast for Rockford?
The next few days in Rockford's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

The warm-summer humid continental climate of Rockford, Illinois carries typical Januarys near 22°F and Julys around 74°F — 52°F of seasonal travel.

Rockford sees close to 37 inches of precipitation annually, falling across some 69 wet days.

Rockford sits at 42.3°N; that 52°F seasonal swing frames planting windows and frost dates across Rockford.

All cities in Illinois →

Chicago, IL weather →

ZIP codes in Rockford

  • 61101
  • 61114
  • 61109
  • 61108
  • 61104
  • 61107
  • 61103
  • 61102
  • 61105
  • 61106
  • 61110
  • 61125
  • 61126

Climate normals from the Open-Meteo Climate API. Köppen approximation from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Regions. See methodology for data sources, editorial rules, and corrections. Maintainer: Brian Tighe.