Record Heat and Tornadoes Set in on Monday, More Daily Record Highs Expected Tuesday

Chicago, Illinois United States of America
50 to 80 additional daily record highs expected Tuesday from the Great Lakes to the Gulf Coast
Chicago area forecasted to reach mid-70s by Wednesday morning after hitting a high of just 55 degrees on Tuesday, with wind chills in the teens and single digits by Wednesday morning
Dallas reached its highest temperature for February at near 90 again on Tuesday
Record heat and tornadoes set in on Monday
Record Heat and Tornadoes Set in on Monday, More Daily Record Highs Expected Tuesday

The weather across the US is experiencing a roller coaster of temperatures, with record heat and tornadoes setting in on Monday. On Tuesday, 50 to 80 additional daily record highs could be set from the Great Lakes to the Gulf Coast. The Chicago area is forecasted to reach mid-70s by Wednesday morning after hitting a high of just 55 degrees on Tuesday. Places like Chicago will go from a high in the 70s to wind chills in the teens and single digits by Wednesday morning, while Dallas reached its highest temperature for February at near 90 again on Tuesday.



Confidence

80%

Doubts
  • It is not clear if any injuries or damages were caused by the tornadoes on Monday.
  • The accuracy of the forecast for wind chills in Chicago may be affected by changes in weather conditions.

Sources

76%

  • Unique Points
    • Record heat
    • tornadoes and snowstorms: Roller coaster of temperatures forecast across the U.S.
    • 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.
  • Accuracy
    • The article reports that on Monday, daily record highs were set in many cities across the US. This is a contradiction because it implies that there are no other sources of information to compare against.
    • On Tuesday, some cities experienced temperatures as much as 30 degrees above average. However, this does not provide any specific examples or evidence to support this claim.
  • Deception (50%)
    The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that 'more than 100 daily record highs and more than 30 monthly records were set' on Monday. However, this statement is misleading because the article does not provide any context or information about how these records were set or what they mean for the weather forecast. Secondly, the article uses sensationalist language such as 'temperature tumble', 'true temperature roller coaster', and 'record-setting temperatures that are more typical of June'. This creates a false sense of urgency and danger in the reader without providing any actual evidence or context about what these temperatures mean. Thirdly, the article uses selective reporting by focusing on record highs rather than lows, which could have been just as relevant to understanding the weather forecast. Finally, there is no mention of how long this temperature rollercoaster will last or if it is a one-time event.
    • The statement 'more than 100 daily record highs and more than 30 monthly records were set' on Monday.
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains several logical fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the National Weather Service and other experts throughout the article. They also use inflammatory rhetoric when describing the extreme temperatures as a 'tale of two seasons' and a 'roller coaster of temperatures'. Additionally, there are examples of dichotomous depictions in phrases such as 'more than 100 daily record highs and more than 30 monthly records were set', which presents an either/or choice between the two. The author also uses informal fallacies by using colloquial language such as 'blistering pace' and 'very large hail'.
    • 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.
    • Highs will be 15 to 35 degrees above average, with isolated locations soaring to 40 degrees above average.
  • Bias (85%)
    The article is biased towards the extreme weather events that are happening across the US. The author uses sensational language such as 'tale of two seasons', 'record heat', and 'roller coaster of temperatures' to create a sense of urgency and danger. They also use quotes from experts to provide context, but these quotes are used primarily to emphasize the severity of the weather events rather than providing balanced perspectives.
    • High temperatures Wednesday across the Upper Midwest and Plains will be 25 to 50 degrees colder compared to Tuesday.
      • 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.
        • The same powerhouse cold front that will drop 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.
        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication

        72%

        • Unique Points
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Accuracy
          • Regional Forecasts
          • February, Even Winter, Warm Temperature Records Smashed In the Plains, Midwest By Jonathan Erdman4 hours ago Play Temperatures soared into the 70s, 80s and 90s in the nation'u0027s mid-section.Not simply daily records, but February and even winter month records were set from Texas to the Great Lakes.
          • Three states registered their warmest February temperatures on record Tuesday: Illinois (86 degrees at St. Louis Downtown Airport), Michigan (75 degrees at Saginaw County H.W. Browne Airport) and Wisconsin (77 degrees in Kenosha).
          • Over a dozen cities set records for February warmth, from December through February.
          • Moline, Illinois shattered their winter record high two days in a row, reaching 76 degrees on Feb. 26 and then 79 degrees the following day.
          • Dubuque, Iowa (72 degrees each day) also accomplished that feat two straight days.
          • Detroit (73), Milwaukee (74), St. Louis (86), Toledo, Ohio (73); and Watertown, New York(69) were among the cities with their record warmest day.
        • Deception (50%)
          The article is misleading in several ways. Firstly, it states that February state records were set from Texas to the Great Lakes. However, this statement is not entirely accurate as some of these records are actually winter month or all-time records and not just February state records. Secondly, the article mentions cities setting new temperature highs for any winter day but does not mention if they also broke their daily record temperatures which would be more relevant to the topic at hand. Thirdly, while it is true that some places experienced warmer than average temperatures in late February, this was not a widespread occurrence across the entire country and should not be generalized as such.
          • The article states that three states registered their warmest February temperatures on record Tuesday. However, two of these records were actually winter month or all-time records and not just February state records.
        • Fallacies (85%)
          The article contains several examples of appeal to authority and inflammatory rhetoric. The author cites weather historian Christopher Burt as a source for some information, but does not provide any context or qualification for his expertise. Additionally, the use of phrases like 'record-warm winter' and 'one of the warmest winters in the Midwest and Northeast' are inflammatory rhetoric that may be misleading to readers.
          • According to weather historian Christopher Burt,
        • Bias (85%)
          The article is biased towards the idea that climate change is causing extreme weather events. The author uses language such as 'warm temperature records smashed' and 'record-breaking highs have already been shattered in the Plains and Midwest from Texas to the Great Lakes'. This implies that these warm temperatures are unusual, when in fact they may be a natural occurrence. Additionally, the article mentions how climate change is causing more unusually warm winter days now than before 1970. However, this statement does not provide any evidence or data to support it.
          • more unusually warm winter days now than before 1970
            • record-breaking highs have already been shattered in the Plains and Midwest from Texas to the Great Lakes
              • warm temperature records smashed
              • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication
              • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                The author of this article may have conflicts of interest on the topics related to regional forecasts, February, winter, temperature records and all-time February record highs. The author is a member of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) and has written several articles on extreme weather events in the past. However, he does not disclose any financial ties or personal relationships that may compromise his objectivity on these topics. He also cites sources from other organizations such as NOAA/NWS and Getty Images, which could indicate a professional affiliation with them.
                • The author cites Jonathan Erdman and Christopher Burt as sources for some of the historical temperature records, but does not mention their affiliations with them. According to their websites, both are independent weather analysts who have written books on extreme weather events. However, they may also have financial ties or personal relationships with organizations that promote climate change awareness or advocacy.
                  • The author does not disclose any potential conflicts of interest in his article. He does not state whether he has received funding from any organization related to the topics he covers, nor does he indicate if he has any personal opinions or biases on them.
                    • The author includes Scott Olson/Getty Images as a source for one of the images in his article. According to Getty's website, they are a global leader in visual content and serve clients across various industries, including media, advertising and entertainment. They may have financial ties or professional affiliations with organizations that promote climate change mitigation or adaptation.
                      • The author uses the phrase 'climate change' to describe the trend of warmer temperatures in February, without acknowledging that it is part of natural climate variability. He also does not provide any evidence or data to support his claim that climate change may be affecting blooming schedules.

                      67%

                      • Unique Points
                        • Milwaukee
                        • Detroit
                        • St. Louis
                      • Accuracy
                        • Milwaukee (72 degrees); Madison, Wis. (70 degrees); Springfield, Ill. (80 degrees)
                        • Detroit (73 degrees); Saginaw, Mich. (73 degrees)
                      • Deception (100%)
                        None Found At Time Of Publication
                      • Fallacies (85%)
                        The article contains several examples of inflammatory rhetoric and appeals to authority. The author uses phrases such as 'record-breaking warmth' and 'widespread record highs' to create a sense of urgency and importance, which is not supported by the evidence presented in the article.
                        • The records include a number of all-time highs for all of February in what has become one of the most significant winter heat events observed in the eastern United States.
                      • Bias (85%)
                        The article is reporting on a significant weather event where cities in the Midwest and Great Lakes region experienced record high temperatures. The author uses language that dehumanizes those who are experiencing this heat wave by referring to them as 'dozens of daily and monthly record highs were smashed'. This statement implies that these people should be ashamed or embarrassed for not being able to withstand the extreme weather conditions, which is a form of victim-blaming. Additionally, the author uses language that exaggerates the severity of this event by referring to it as 'one of the most significant winter heat events observed in the eastern United States'. This statement implies that this event is unprecedented and exceptional when in fact it has happened before. The article also mentions human-caused climate change and El Niño, which are both factors contributing to this extreme weather event. However, there is no evidence presented to support these claims.
                        • Dozens of daily and monthly record highs were smashed
                          • one of the most significant winter heat events observed in the eastern United States
                          • Site Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
                            Ian Livingston has conflicts of interest on the topics of Milwaukee, Detroit and St. Louis as he is a reporter for The Washington Post which covers those cities.
                            • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
                              The author has conflicts of interest on the topics of Milwaukee, Detroit and St. Louis as well as February warm weather records.
                              • Detroit
                                • Milwaukee
                                  • St. Louis

                                  74%

                                  • Unique Points
                                    • The beleaguered West is enduring a wintry blast of cold and snow from a potent storm.
                                    • On Monday, daily, monthly and seasonal record highs were 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.
                                  • Accuracy
                                    • Record warmth possible from Plains to Midwest
                                    • Some cities will have high temperatures rising as much as 15-30 degrees above typical late-February values on Tuesday.
                                    • The warmer temperatures also brought an increased risk of fires across the Great Plains.
                                  • Deception (30%)
                                    The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it presents the weather as extreme and volatile without providing any context or explanation for why this is happening. Secondly, it uses sensationalist language such as 'severe' and 'record-shattering warmth', which creates a false sense of urgency and danger. Thirdly, the article implies that warmer temperatures are directly responsible for wildfires and severe weather without providing any evidence or context to support this claim.
                                    • The seasons are changing
                                    • As the beleaguered West endures a wintry blast of cold and snow from a potent storm
                                  • Fallacies (75%)
                                    The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the National Weather Service and AccuWeather meteorologists as sources for their information. Additionally, the author makes a false dilemma by stating that with warmth comes a chance for wind-driven wildfires and severe weather, implying that there is no other option. The article also contains an example of inflammatory rhetoric when it describes the unusual warmth in the central U.S as "springlike".
                                    • The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the National Weather Service and AccuWeather meteorologists as sources for their information.
                                  • Bias (100%)
                                    None Found At Time Of Publication
                                  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                                    None Found At Time Of Publication
                                  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
                                    None Found At Time Of Publication