A warm front comes through Illinois, bringing behind it a tight pressure gradient- the closer the lines, the higher the winds. So it's another football Saturday with southerly winds coming through at a good clip, gusts around 30mph are quite possible during the game. Clouds will increase as well throughout the entire day. It's a day to dress in layers, as it will be a chilly start to the day, and even though we'll warm up to the 50s and stay mild into the evening hours, it'll still be breezy.

If you're traveling to Champaign...

Tailgating

For you super early-bird tailgaters, Champaign won't hit 40 degrees until 8am, and with a SW wind at 10-15mph, wind chill will make it feel like 30. By 10am, wind chill still hanging on, and although it will be 48, it'll still feel like it's in the low 40s. That wind has picked up a bit also, still out of the southwest, but up to 17-22mph (small trees sway). Temps will hit 55 by 1pm, SW winds up to a steady 22mph, and gusts possible up to 25mph (empty plastic garbage cans tip over, you can hear the wind "whistling"). Cloud cover will increase during the day, but tailgating should be mostly sunny.

Kickoff

Remember it's a 2:30 CT start! Reaching the high of 59 degrees with mostly sunny skies for kickoff. And that wind's not backing down... SSW winds at 20mph, with gusts up to 32mph (it's difficult to use an umbrella, you need to use effort to walk against the wind).

Halftime

Dropping just a degree or two for halftime, still a warm 58 degrees. Partly sunny skies by now, as more and more clouds build their way in. SSW winds remain high also at 20mph, and expect gusts up around 30mph.

Post-Game

Experiencing not nearly the same cool down as Friday night, Champaign will stay mild. Even by last call, temps will only be in the low 50s. The clouds continue to build for a mostly cloudy evening and staying that way overnight. Those SSW winds stay at 20mph, with gusts still possible up to 30mph, increasing into Sunday. If you're driving home on Sunday, expect mostly cloudy conditions with a chance of rain, highs in the low 60s, and windy conditions-be careful driving as gusts could be up to 40mph!

 

If you're staying home...

A partly cloudy morning with SW winds at 10mph gives way to more sun during the day, and the winds picking up a bit. We'll see upper 40s by mid-morning, but don't forget that darn wind chill-making it feel like the low 40s. Winds will rise to 15mph, and some gusts will be up to 20mph. Ann Arbor will reach 54 degrees by kickoff time, with gusts now possible up to 22mph, remaining out of the SW. We'll get a mini-break from the wind for dinner-time, then it'll pick back up and increase overnight, along with the cloud cover. If you're headed out, by closing time we'll be at 48 degrees, SSW winds between 15-20mph (wind chill 40) with partly cloudy skies.

Go Blue and have safe travels, or have fun watching here at home!

Christina Burkhart is a meteorologist for NBC/ABC in Traverse City, MI. She grew up in Ann Arbor and associates Saturdays with Michigan football. Go Blue!!