Record Warmth Across Nation

Flowers in bloom. Courtesy of Photos.com

Mar 13, 2012; 5:49 AM ET

Temperature records continue to be shattered across the eastern two-thirds of the nation as the springlike warmth bulges eastward.

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 and thunderstorms that push through the Northeast today.

In fact, some thunderstorms from Washington, D.C., to New York City could produce hail this afternoon.

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.

 

80-degree warmth will spread north and east throughout the week as high pressure builds.

The only fly-in-the-ointment will be a backdoor cold front that has the potential to bring cooler weather to the Northeast from Wednesday to Friday.

Locations north of Boston are in the most favorable location to experience cool weather for the end of the week. Between Boston and New York City, the temperatures will depend on the wind direction. A flow off the chilly Atlantic Ocean would lead to temperatures in the 40s and 50s while a southerly or southwesterly breeze would provide balmy weather.

By the weekend, residents of the entire Northeast should be able to enjoy the springlike warmth.

 

A backdoor front has the potential to put a damper on the warming trend in the Northeast from the middle to end of the week.

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 have warmer-than-normal temperatures, the largest difference from normal should be found in the northern Plains and Upper Midwest.

Records Shattered Monday

Numerous temperature records continued to be broken across the country on Monday as the warmth spread eastward. Locations from Florida to North Dakota to Maine experienced record warmth.

A list of some of the notable high temperature records from Monday:

City, State	New Record	Old Record, Year
New York, N.Y.	71 degrees	71, 1890 (tie)
Boston, Mass.	71 degrees	69, 1902
Syracuse, N.Y.	68 degrees	67, 1977
Bangor, Maine	62 degrees	56, 1927
Grand Forks, N.D.	56 degrees	53, 1964 and 2002
Sarasota, Fla.	86 degrees	86, 1997 (tie)
St. Louis, Mo.	84 degrees	84, 1972 and 1990 (tie)

Record Warmth Across Nation