The Chicago area experienced near-record high temperatures, reaching up to 60 degrees, alongside severe weather conditions on Thursday. The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center issued a Marginal Risk warning, with a Level 1 risk of severe storms, indicating a 2% tornado threat across northern Illinois. Meteorologists anticipated storms to form between 3-5 pm, with the potential for tornadoes, wind gusts over 60 MPH, and hail up to 1 inch in diameter. A tornado warning was issued for LaSalle County, and a confirmed tornado near Henry in Marshall County resulted in damage, as captured by @JordanHallWX. The high temperature in Chicago tied the record high of 62 degrees, contributing to the warmest start to February on record.
STUNNING OPEN TO FEBRUARY 2024: if you think it’s been unusually mild so far this month, your perception is spot on! In fact, the opening 9 days rank as the warmest on the books since records began 154 years ago, a remarkable 15° above normal! #Chicago 🔥🔥 https://t.co/AFlwdMrRTd
All Cities, All Counties... under a Marginal Risk for Severe Weather this weekend. https://t.co/TWhCGzZ13Y
PHOTOS: Chicago ties record temperature set in 1886 with high of 56 degrees Friday https://t.co/Nvn7VAUzt4 https://t.co/4nwHguWRpl
Chicago’s high temperature on Friday reached 56 degrees, tying a record for Feb. 9 that stood for 138 years. https://t.co/t7hBtehj4p
There is a marginal (1/5) risk for severe thunderstorms Saturday night into Sunday morning. Large hail and damaging wind gusts look to be the main threats. There is also a low, but not zero, threat for an isolated tornado. #Txwx https://t.co/a5mgWEf7Kc
We've officially tied the record high temperature today at O'Hare. And not including today, we've had the warmest start to February on record! #Chicago https://t.co/4CTczrlzHw
We've offically tied today's record at O'Hare and not including today, we've had the warmest start to February on record! #Chicago https://t.co/Nl4sYgmK6q
Impact Weather Day on Monday. Isolated severe t-storms possible. Main impacts are strong winds & hail. Low chance of iso. tornadoes. #Savannah https://t.co/fyd4gBkhow
Marginal Chance of Severe Thunderstorms this weekend. https://t.co/onNDQ6y8Rs
Central Texas has been upgraded to a marginal risk of #severeweather with hail, wind and lightning being the main threats. #FOX7Austin #atxwx #txwx https://t.co/MFfcO6XE5X
Near-record warmth with highs near 60 degrees in Chicago https://t.co/GP2Zblsux0 https://t.co/GcOchL80xR
A supercell near Henry, Illinois produced a #tornado on Thursday evening near Highway 18. Here is Storm Chaser @JordanHallWX coverage of this intense storm. #ilwx #wxtwitter https://t.co/Mzoss4mF7K
733pm in Chicago on Thursday night with lightning across the south end of the skyline. #storm #chicago #ilwx #news #lightning https://t.co/NOcZLGHbT5
Just incredible for February!!! What a shot Nick!! We did have April level temperatures and the atmosphere responded accordingly! #ilwx #LightningStrikes #Chicago ⚡️⚡️⚡️ @WGNNews @WGNMorningNews https://t.co/Pfl0Hx81D9
A rare February thunderstorm put on a lightning show over Chicago. What a strike! // #ILwx #ChicagoWX https://t.co/O3fPk3Iw9f
📍 Henry, Illinois Tornado damage observed just east of Henry on Highway 18. Captured by: @JordanHallWX #ilwx #wxtwitter https://t.co/NBu7DhGioW
Tornado spotted in Illinois as Chicago, Milwaukee threatened by severe weather Thursday #ILwx #severewx https://t.co/5AvWL0h2Qq
Woah! Check out this stunning shelf cloud accompanied by some picturesque lightning from near Morris, IL this evening. We're continue to track a severe threat for the midwest this evening. #ilwx https://t.co/cETZarZZtK
As anticipated, low-topped supercells have evolved out of showers/thunderstorms. Moisture isn’t plentiful, but spin is. Even the shallower storms can rotate. A couple severe thunderstorms in Illinois and even a tornado-warned supercell south of Madison, Wisconsin. @MyRadarWX https://t.co/ceMRlRByRX https://t.co/23XGJz5Mu1
Heads up in western LaSalle County. A confirmed tornado was spotted near Henry in Marshall County. Storm is moving NE at 45 mph. #ilwx https://t.co/0xcOSAKg1J
LaSalle County: 🚨 Tornado warning is just southwest of you ( Putnam). Storm located near Henry is moving northeast around 45mph. https://t.co/DvW3cfZrXx
A mesoscale discussion has been issued for much of Illinois as storm initiation has begun. Storms could pose a threat for a #tornado and gusty winds as they continue throughout the evening. Update from: @JordanHallWX #ilwx #wxtwitter https://t.co/GWo8BlAZ9P
🌪️A level 1 out of 5 marginal risk of severe weather has been drawn for northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin, and the Chicago metro area. There’s a low risk of a storm forming, but if it does, it could become a tornadic supercell. Meteorologist @MatthewCappucci has an update. https://t.co/GzIbF15pYG
Chicago area at ‘marginal risk’ of severe storms, including hail, gusty winds and even a tornado threat https://t.co/4mm3ulUiBh
The Storm Prediction Center has placed most of our area under a marginal (1 out of 5) risk for severe storms (everyone in yellow) this evening. Main threats look to be damaging gusty winds and hail. A brief, spin up tornado is also possible. #Chicago #ilwx https://t.co/MCxFZRAImF
The Storm Prediction Center has placed most of our area under a marginal risk for severe storms (everyone in yellow) this evening. Main threats look to be damaging gusty winds and hail. A brief, spin up tornado is also possible. #Chicago #ilwx https://t.co/Y1XvB9gFn2
Chicago hit nearly 60 degrees today, close to an all-time record. https://t.co/zOqu4eM3LY https://t.co/VLAs2epT2d
Chicago area to get hit by strong storms Thursday afternoon into evening https://t.co/tLG3TwFHtY
The @NWSSPC has issued a Marginal Risk with a 2% #tornado threat across northern Illinois. Storms are forecast to form between 3-5 pm and track northeast toward the Chicago area. Update from: @JordanHallWX #ilwx #wxtwitter https://t.co/zhr6Ws8RZG
What a day! 🤩 The record high is 62°. #Chicago https://t.co/ZDhUSjzGPB
Part of the Chicago area is under a Level 1 risk of severe storms Thursday, ABC7 Chicago meteorologists said. https://t.co/LRAfLmCPu5
Watch for a couple of intense, low-topped storms to develop near the Iowa/Illinois this afternoon with the risk for a tornado or two, wind gusts over 60 MPH, and hail to 1" in diameter possible along the I-39 corridor toward the Chicago metro through the evening hours. #ilwx https://t.co/bOtnZR8pug
Small, but not zero tornado probability over southern WI and northern IL today. https://t.co/k5UMsTdNK7
Near-record-breaking highs with showers, thunderstorms for Chicago area Thursday afternoon https://t.co/jW6YRvSNql https://t.co/eKGS17xQxT
Is it thunderstorm season already in Chicago? Spring-like temperatures, strong, gusty storms possible https://t.co/eaMOAsYOui