An abrupt change in temperature could bring hail and tornadoes to the Midwest

USA

“Record-shattering warmth,” followed immediately by frigid weather, will create the potential for hail the size of chicken eggs and possible tornadoes across the Midwest Tuesday evening through Wednesday morning. Chicago, St. Louis and Indianapolis are all at some risk from severe storms, and residents there are also expected to experience an abrupt return to wearing multiple layers after days of short-sleeved weather.

In St. Louis, temperatures are likely to drop 40 to 50 degrees, and forecasters warned that severe storms could threaten the area Tuesday. Severe storms tend to be more common in the South in February, but are not unheard of in the Midwest. On average, about one tornado occurs each February in Indiana, two in Illinois and two in Missouri.

The weather lineup has some hallmarks of notable severe weather, forecasters said. However, a few things are still unknown, such as how much moisture will flow north from the Gulf of Mexico. That creates some uncertainty about how strong these storms will be.

Here are the things you need to know.

The exact locations that will be hit hardest by the storm are still unknown. They are most likely to occur between Missouri and Michigan, mainly in northeastern Illinois and northern Indiana, where there is an increased risk of two-inch hail and tornadoes.

Before the storms, record high temperatures could fall.

Tuesday through Wednesday will be a “tale of two seasons,” forecasters in Chicago said. More than 50 daily temperature records could be broken across the central United States on Tuesday as high temperatures reach 30 to 40 degrees above normal.

Chicago’s record high of 75 degrees in February could be in jeopardy. Forecasters in the city warned that Wednesday could feel like a “slap in the face” when temperatures are expected to drop into the upper 20s with gusty northwest winds up to 20 to 40 miles per hour, resulting in wind chills in the single digits and teens .

Even a light dusting of snow is possible in some of the same areas affected by storms.