Mar 12, 2012; 10:12 AM ET
Flowers in bloom. Courtesy of Photos.com Record-Challenging Warmth East of the Rockies
Residents from Dallas, Texas, to International Falls, Minn., to Boston, Mass., can put away the winter jackets for the week. Temperatures will soar into the 60s as far north as the U.S.-Canadian border with 70s creeping into the New York City area.
The only potential downside to the weather this week across the eastern two-thirds of the nation will be some rain showers that push through the Ohio Valley today and into the Northeast on Tuesday.
In fact, some gusty thunderstorms could rumble through Michigan this afternoon and evening.
A large area of high pressure stationed near the East Coast will continue to pump warm air northward through the week.
With high temperatures reaching into the 60s and 70s, many locations will be 10-20 degrees above normal.
In general, places farther north will have the largest departures from normal. For example, the normal high for International Falls, Minn., is in the low 30s. High temperatures this week are expected to climb near 60 degrees, almost 30 degrees above average!
People living in New York City would typically see temperatures near 50 in mid-March. Instead, they will experience temperatures near 70.
Even in places across the Plains, temperatures will climb to near record levels. Kansas City, Mo., is forecast to challenge record highs near 80 degrees all week.
The only spot in the eastern part of the country that could miss out on the exceptional warmth would be northern New England.
A cool pocket of air and associated rain and snow showers is likely to keep temperatures in the 30s and 40s through Thursday. Residents in this part of the nation may have to wait until the weekend for springlike warmth.
The abnormal warmth is expected to continue at least into the early part of next week and possibly beyond. While most places east of the Rockies will see warmer-than-normal temperatures, the largest difference from normal should be found in the northern Plains and Upper Midwest.
Records Shattered in Plains, Midwest
Numerous temperature records were broken this weekend from Montana to Wisconsin as the warmth began to spread east.
One of the most impressive feats from the weekend was Marquette, Mich., reaching 63 degrees with 2 feet of snow cover! The old record was 55, set in 1995.
A list of some of the notable high temperature records from the weekend:
| City, State | New Record | Old Record, Year |
|---|---|---|
| Eau Claire, Wis. | 66 degrees | 60, 2006 |
| Minneapolis, Minn. | 66 degrees | 62, 1902 |
| International Falls, Minn. | 61 degrees | 52, 1957, 1995, and 2007 |
| Bismarck, N.D. | 69 degrees | 67, 1934 |
| Miles City, Mont. | 71 degrees | 69, 1954 |
| Pierre, S.D. | 74 degrees | 70, 1972 |
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