The central United States recently experienced an unprecedented heat wave, with numerous records being shattered. Over 130 cities and towns, including Minneapolis, Milwaukee, St. Louis, and Detroit, saw their highest February temperatures on record. Temperatures soared to 90 degrees in Missouri, the mid-80s in Illinois, near 80 in Iowa, and the mid-70s in Wisconsin. The unseasonable warmth even reached southern Canada, with Quebec recording its highest February temperature.

The extreme heat, described as "insanity" and "madness" by weather experts, led to the outbreak of damaging tornadoes in the Midwest and sparked massive wildfires in parts of Texas and the Plains. The Climate Shift Index suggests that human-caused climate change played a significant role in this abnormal weather pattern, making such heat events two to three times more probable.

In addition to the warm temperatures, a rare outbreak of tornadoes hit northern Illinois, including the Chicago area, parts of southern Michigan, and central Ohio. The Weather Service issued a record number of tornado warnings in February, and travelers at O'Hare International Airport were briefly advised to take shelter. Multiple towns and cities reported damage from the storms, with reports of wind damage and large hail in the southern Great Lakes region.

The dramatic temperature swings associated with the storm front that triggered the severe weather were also noteworthy. In Kansas City, Missouri, temperatures dropped from 73 degrees to 30 degrees within hours as the front moved through. Fargo, North Dakota, experienced a drastic shift from 61 degrees to 6 degrees in a single day, accompanied by heavy snow and wind chills as low as minus-20.

While the cold front brought a sudden drop in temperatures, warmer weather is expected to return, with temperatures at least 20 degrees above normal forecasted for parts of the northern Plains. The region is set to witness its first record-breaking warmth of climatological spring, which spans from March to May, over the upcoming weekend.