Central U.S. Braces for Wild Weather Ride to Close Out October

The central portions of the U.S. are going to see a variety of wacky weather conditions as the calendar says goodbye to October. Meteorologists are predicting record high temperatures, the threat of wildfires, and severe storms in the days ahead. Here is what you need to know about the forecast for the nation's heartland.

End of October Will Take Central U.S. on Wacky Weather Ride

It is going to be a crazy end to October for the middle part of the country with forecasters warning residents to stay alert to the chance of severe weather and wildfires. The impetus of the wild weather will be a storm that is going to come out of the Rockies early in the week, setting the stage for a few days of volatile conditions.

It will be exceptionally warm for the Plains states with high winds raising the threat of wildfire danger. Record high temperatures could fall on Tuesday in a zone from Texas and up into Minnesota and Michigan. The warmth will be accompanied by high winds coming from the south and southwest.

The summerlike temperatures will land about 15 to 25 degrees above the historical average for the last week of October for the Plains states, the mid-Mississippi Valley, and the Midwest. Widespread highs in the 70s and 80s will have people checking the calendar. Moving to the south, some areas will see readings that approach the 90-degree level.

Who should expect records to fall? Minneapolis is a prime candidate for a new record on Monday as the mercury is forecast to come close to hitting 80 degrees. The historical average for this time of year in the Twin Cities is in the low 50s. The current record high for that date in history is 78 degrees, dating back to 1922.

Minneapolis is forecast to reach 79 degrees on Tuesday after the morning clouds break up and make way for sunshine. Enjoy the dry and warm weather while you can as a change is in store for this part of the region by later in the day Tuesday. This is when the front will arrive and produce a threat of thunderstorms while bringing down the mercury. For instance, Wednesday is forecast to usher in rainfall of about a quarter of an inch and highs that hover in the low 60s. It will be even chillier on Thursday with highs topping out in the upper 40s.

While most people will take notice of the afternoon highs, it will be the overnight lows that likely set the most records. Overnight readings will hover at levels more akin to the average highs at the end of October. This will translate to lows that bounce around in the 50s and 60s.

Wildfire Danger Heightened Thanks to Dryness and Windy Conditions

The warm weather will be a welcome forecast for those looking to squeeze the most out of the season and its associated outdoor activities. However, the soaring temperatures will pair with the ongoing dry conditions to increase the threat of wildfire ignition and spread.

According to the latest report from the U.S. Drought Monitor, every single U.S. state is under some level of abnormally dry or drought conditions in places. The parched ground will also work to raise the chances that wildfires break out and grow in size.

The Plains and the Upper Midwest will be in the most danger of wildfires. This is where winds will gust to levels between 40 and 60 mph. Local officials are urging residents to refrain from outdoor burning until the winds die down.