Late February Storm System

A cold front swept across the Central US, impacting everything from winter weather, to fire weather, to severe weather.

Snow squall warnings were issued from the Rockies to the Central/Northern Plains as heavy snow and strong winds proliferated from the front.

Blizzard warnings in the far Northern Plains also were issued due to the winter weather induced by the front.

The frontal system’s strong winds also created the conditions necessary to warrant red flag warnings across the Southern Plains and parts of the Midwest.

This especially posed a threat to the (at the time) ongoing fires in Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle as the passing front ended up directing the direction and danger of the wildfires.

During the evening and overnight hours, severe weather fired-up along the front, with the main threats including large hail and tornadoes. The Midwest then became the main area of concern, including Chicago and areas along Lake Michigan, as well as the Ohio River Valley under risk of severe thunderstorms.

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Contributions by: Josh Reiter, Kim Erickson and Dakota Smith

Satellite imagery of this event:

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