Chicago faces severe weather threats with tornadoes and golf ball sized hail possible

Heavy snowfall and winds in the West could create travel chaos as conditions become dangerous for both road and air travel

Heavy snow blanketed New York City earlier this year

An unusually warm winter will bring severe thunderstorms to much of the country as the Western US is blanketed in heavy snow.

The Midwest and Great Lakes saw record-breaking warmth on 26 and 27 February — but with temperatures rising and falling rapidly, severe thunderstorms, golf-ball-sized hail and tornadoes could hit the area as the month ends, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

Meanwhile, areas of ten states in the West are under winter storm warnings as of 27 February. California could also see ten feet of snow in mountain areas later this week, according to the NWS.

Avalanche warnings are also in place for parts of Montana. Severe weather has already triggered avalanches this year — in early February, emergency crews had to rescue four people after an avalanche hit the Lee Canyon ski resort in Nevada. That same week, a skier in Wyoming was seriously injured after an avalanche carried her 1,500 feet.

These blizzard conditions could sow travel chaos throughout the country. In previous severe weather events, hundreds of flights were cancelled and road conditions became deadly. Last month, a severe winter storm across most of the country killed at least 89 people.

Key Points

• Areas of ten states under winter weather alerts
• Two-inch hail expected in Great Lakes region
• California braces for ten feet of snow in mountain areas

[27 February 2024 19:40 · Katie Hawkinson]

Montana faces avalanche warnings

Parts of southwestern Montana are under avalanche warnings on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.

2024 has already brought several avalanches to the West. Earlier this month, emergency crews had to rescue four people after an avalanche hit the Lee Canyon ski resort in Nevada. Around the same time, a skier in Wyoming was seriously injured after an avalanche carried her 1,500 feet.

[27 February 2024 20:00 · Katie Hawkinson]

SEE IT: Spring-like weather in Chicago, Illinois

Temperatures in Chicago, Illinois soared past 70F on Monday and Tuesday (Getty Images)

People walk along a boardwalk on a spring-like February day in Chicago (Getty Images)

A woman stands on the beach as spring-like temperatures hit Chicago on Monday (Getty Images)