Midwest Heatwave Linked to Human-Caused Warming

Much of the Plains and Upper Midwest are experiencing unseasonably warm, dry conditions into early October, with Chicago recording a 16-day streak of above-normal temperatures and highs generally in the 70s–80s across Wisconsin, Minnesota and the Chicago area. Some locations, including Lubbock, are forecast to reach the upper 80s to lower 90s, and brief cooldowns from weak fronts or clippers may briefly trim temperatures before high pressure and the warming pattern return. Precipitation chances are minimal, limited to a few spotty showers in far northern Minnesota, a slight weekend thunderstorm risk near Lubbock, and diminishing light lake‑effect showers near Chicago. Forecasters say a ridge of high pressure is trapping warm air, and local coverage and climate scientists note the pattern is consistent with broader human‑caused warming, with calls to reduce greenhouse‑gas emissions in line with IPCC guidance.