Winter weather advisory, storm warning: Severe Tornado threats in parts of U.S. today, late season storm predicted

Severe thunderstorms are likely on Thursday across northern Illinois, eastern Iowa, southern Wisconsin, Michigan. A tornado alert has been issued by NWS Storm Prediction center. Tornado threat will begin today afternoon and wind threat will remain till evening hours. There could be a few wind gusts exceeding 75 mph. Meanwhile, severe storms are predicted across northern Missouri and southern Iowa for Friday.

A late-season winter storm is underway across the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest and is expected to bring heavy snow, sleet, and icing to parts of the region. Expect hazardous travel and potential power outages.




A second winter storm will bring heavy snow and icing to the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest Friday into Saturday. Widespread 6+ inches of snow and hazardous travel are expected, with icing compounding impacts from the first storm.

Meanwhile, Denver city set a new high temperature record for March: 87 degrees (30 Celsius). The previous record of 85 degrees (29 Celsius) was set just a week earlier.

Drought was bearing down west of the Rockies, too. In California, snowpack in the Sierra Nevada measured only 18 per cent of the average for this time of year, state data showed.

Hot, dry weather is a recipe for wildfires. While other parts of the U.S., including the South and Southwest, face higher fire risk this spring, forecasters expect the threat in the Rockies to rise as above-average temperatures and below-normal precipitation persist into summer.

This week, the region is getting a reprieve of cooler, damper weather, with snow back in the forecast by the end of the week in North Park.