Lot of green, about two months early

The Nation’s midsection is lit up with green this afternoon and perhaps a little orange (severe thunderstorm warnings) later today and Tuesday. An historical early January warm spell has caused rapid snowmelt from Missouri to Michigan. Rivers are running bank full and soon will be out of their banks with a soaking of showers today and tonight.

Northern Ilinois flood threat

In Minnesota, bragging rights for mild temperatures go to our residents in the northern part of the state. International Falls, which likes to boast about low temperatures well below zero in January, reached a record high of 41 degrees on Sunday; the same maximum temperature in the Twin Cities.

Chicago was registering readings above 60, while St. Louis topped out in the lower 70s. Similar unseasonably mild readings are being experienced this afternoon. These temperatures, some 30 degrees warmer than normal spawned, thunderstorms as far north as central Wisconsin this morning.

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I had to rub my eyes and make a long distance phone call to the chief meteorologist in Milwaukee shortly before the lunch hour when I spied a Severe Thunderstorm Storm Warning for large hail near Beaver Dam. Yes, convective thunderstorms in early January in the Badger State.

The Storm Prediction Center believes that there is a severe weather threat stretching from Missouri to Illinois in the next twenty four hours. The potential for severe weather moves into Indiana on Tuesday.

Hazardous weather outlooks

And, oh yes, here in the Twin Cities we documented low temperatures, the past couple of mornings, some 25 to near 30 degrees above normal. A cool down to normal by the end of the week will be a nice reminder of January’s past.

CE