Record Heat for the Intermountain West and Northern Plains; Heavy Rainfall and Severe Weather Threats

Record setting heat is expected over the next several days from the Intermountain West through the northern Plains. Furthermore, fire weather concerns increase with dry and breezy conditions. Meanwhile, heavy rainfall and severe thunderstorm threats for the Ohio/Tennessee Valleys, central Appalachians and Southeast today. The threat shifts to central Gulf Coast and across central Texas this week. Read More >

This is a look at snowfall through mid-winter for several U.S. cities. Chicago is running below normal, but the frequency of snow is actually near normal. Storm track dictates a lot of this, and is why Paducah, KY has seen more snow than locally, but why Chicago has had more than Denver!

The second graphic is a research-based index from the Midwestern Regional Climate Center that objectively quantifies winter's severity using cold, snow, and snow depth. Thus far for Chicago, this index indicates winter's cumulative effects are near average. The two weeks of cold from the end of 2017 into the first week of this year particularly stand out.

For Rockford, IL, total snowfall through January 18 was 10.8". This is 8.4" below the normal of 19.2" usually seen through mid-January.

For more, please visit our local climate page.

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Record Heat for the Intermountain West and Northern Plains; Heavy Rainfall and Severe Weather Threats

A Look at Winter Through its Midpoint