Millions of Americans will experience a tale of two seasons this week, beginning with spring and summerlike warmth, but ending with a bitter blast back to reality with more winterlike temperatures to end the month.
On Monday, daily, monthly and seasonal record highs were all set at a blistering pace with the warmth stretching from the Canadian border to the Gulf Coast. All in all, more than 100 daily record highs and more than 30 monthly records were set.
On Tuesday, 50 to 80 additional daily record highs could be set from the Great Lakes to Gulf Coast, eastbound into the Northeast. Highs will be 15-35 degrees above average, with isolated locations soaring to 40 degrees above average.
The high temperatures experienced over the past couple of days are more typical of June, including for the Chicago area which is forecast to reach the mid-70s.
By Wednesday, however, a dramatic temperature tumble, associated with a powerful cold front, will slice across the country leaving bitter cold temperatures in its wake.
High temperatures Wednesday across the Upper Midwest and Plains will be 25 to 50 degrees colder compared to Tuesday. Places like Chicago will go from a high in the 70s to wind chills in the teens and single digits by Wednesday morning.
Dallas, after hitting the mid-90s on Monday and near 90 again Tuesday, will experience a high of just 55 degrees on Wednesday.
And it will be a true temperature roller coaster for millions, with the potential for more record-warmth returning on Saturday, especially across the Midwest and Great Lakes.
The same powerhouse cold front that will drop the temperatures across the country, will also bring the risk of severe thunderstorms capable of destructive hail and nocturnal tornadoes to the Midwest and Great Lakes on Tuesday.
Forty million people are under the risk for severe storms from Missouri to Michigan, where very large hail (up to golf ball size or larger) and isolated tornadoes are the main risks, followed by damaging winds….
Read the full article here
