Soaring Temperatures Spark Rare Winter Alert for First Time in 7 Years

Abnormally high temperatures have prompted National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists to issue a red-flag warning for the Chicago region, something that hasn't occurred during the late winter months for at least seven years.

Temperatures soared across much of the U.S. on Monday in advance of a storm working its way west across the nation. The high temperatures, when combined with low humidity and gusty winds, create dangerous conditions for burning, which is typically not seen in the Midwest until the spring months.

"Dry fuels, low relative humidity, and strong winds will create conditions favorable for the rapid spread of wildfires," the NWS warning said.

The warning will remain in place for the Chicago region until 6 p.m. local time this evening. South winds were blowing at 15 to 20 miles per hour, with gusts reaching 35 miles per hour.

NWS meteorologist David King told Newsweek that the last time a red-flag warning was issued by the Chicago office in the winter months was in 2017, but even that warning was dated for early March. Red-flag warnings issued in February dated back to 2000. King added that Illinois residents should exercise extreme caution and avoid burning if possible.

"Strong south winds, gusting over 30 mph, record warm temps, & very dry conditions will make it so that any brush fires that start will spread rapidly & become difficult to control," the NWS office in Chicago posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday morning. "Exercise extreme caution disposing of smoking materials, consider postponing outdoor burning."

The conditions are caused by a storm system approaching from the west. NWS Weather Prediction Center meteorologist Rich Otto told Newsweek that winds approaching the Rocky Mountains are experiencing a downsloping effect, which brings warm, dry air across the region.

"That's what we have in place right now across a good portion of the Plains," Otto said. "Red-flag warnings are extending all the way from western Texas into the Black Hills of South Dakota."

Otto said, in that region, red-flag warnings aren't "terribly uncommon" but are still more commonly seen in the spring. The weather conditions are causing record-breaking high temperatures across a "pretty widespread area," Otto added.

Up to 16 states could experience the record-breaking temperatures, which will be up to 40 degrees Fahrenheit above average. Northern states such as North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota could see temperatures reaching the 60s, and southern Texas could experienced temperatures in the lower 90s.

A strong cold front associated with the approaching storm will cause the temperatures to plunge midweek, but they are expected to rise again by the end of the week.