Winter is nearly over but bad weather remains a constant no matter what the season is. Two large regions of the United States are set to get a potentially painful reminder of that tomorrow.
According to the National Weather Service, "severe" weather is slated to hit the Plains and the Great Lakes on Thursday. The weather systems include "large hail," damaging winds and even tornados.
"Chances for severe weather return on Thursday as a strong storm system lifts out of the Plains towards the Great Lakes. Large hail, damaging winds, and even a few tornadoes will be possible across parts of the Ohio Valley as storms roll through," the outlet announced.
The affected states may include Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina and New Jersey.
The risk is reportedly highest in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky.
© Rob Schumacher/The Republic, Arizona Republic via Imagn Content Services, LLC
A winter of discontent
We just got finished with a brutal and deadly winter that struck the Eastern United States. The winter system in late-January stretched nearly 2,000 miles from the Plains through the Northeast, with snow accumulations reaching well over a foot in some areas and ice affecting others, and authorities issued widespread winter weather alerts and emergency declarations. The storm contributed to record flight cancellations, hazardous road conditions, and power outages across multiple states.
In the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, the storm delivered significant snowfall and icy conditions that disrupted transportation and daily routines, with parts of the Carolinas, Tennessee, and Virginia seeing measurable snow and freezing rain that grounded flights and made travel treacherous.
The Northeast experienced heavy snows, particularly around major cities along the I-95 corridor, leading to difficult travel conditions and ongoing cleanup efforts. The storm’s departure was followed by lingering arctic cold and continued winter weather potential as forecasters tracked additional snow threats and nor’easter development in the region.
Spring is rapidly approaching, but we have to stay prepared for dangerous weather systems all year, every year.