Record Heat Sweeps Midwest and Northeast, Breaking February High Temperature Records
Unseasonably warm temperatures are spreading across the Midwest and Northeast, shattering February high temperature records. This unexpected surge of heat has transformed the usually chilly regions into what feels like April or May. In fact, temperatures in some areas have reached the 60s, 70s, 80s, and even 90s. The Midwest is experiencing an especially warm winter, with this latest heat wave serving as the cherry on top.
The warmth is expected to persist early this week, with a few cities seeing their temperatures soar 40 degrees above average for this time of year. St. Louis and Green Bay are among the cities that will be basking in the unseasonable heat. Tuesday will be a crucial day for setting records, with over 100 daily records potentially being broken from Texas to the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley. Cities like Chicago, Green Bay, and St. Louis could see their hottest February temperatures ever recorded.
The heat wave has already made history in many places. Omaha, Nebraska reached a scorching 80 degrees, breaking its all-time February high temperature record. Des Moines, Iowa and Minneapolis also experienced record-breaking highs of 78 degrees and 65 degrees, respectively. Rochester, Minnesota smashed its previous record with a high of 69 degrees. Dubuque, Iowa and Moline, Illinois not only had their warmest February days but also experienced their warmest winter days from December through February. St. Joseph, Missouri reached 80 degrees for only the second time in February, a temperature that hadn’t been seen in 94 years. Texarkana, Arkansas achieved its first-ever 90-degree high temperature in February, while Abilene, Texas tied its February record by soaring to a scorching 94 degrees.
Despite the impending cold front that will temporarily end the warmth from west to east, this winter reality check won’t last long. Warmer air is expected to return to the Plains late in the week, gradually moving into the Midwest and parts of the Northeast by the first week of March. This means that more record warmth will be on its way, extending from the Plains all the way to the Northeast.
The warm winter that the Midwest and Northeast have experienced can be attributed to various factors. The strong El Niño that has been in place has contributed to warmer winters across the northern tier of states. Additionally, a lack of persistent blocking patterns, such as the Greenland block, has prevented cold air from Canada from settling in the U.S. for extended periods of time. Instead, high pressure has been present over central and eastern Canada, keeping the Midwest and Northeast consistently warmer than usual. Finally, winter has been the fastest-warming season in most of the U.S. since 1970, with shorter cold snaps and more unusually warm winter days becoming increasingly common.
As temperatures continue to defy expectations and break records, it’s clear that winter in the Midwest and Northeast is not what it used to be. Whether this trend will persist or change in the future remains uncertain. For now, residents of these regions can enjoy their extended taste of spring in the midst of what should be a chilly February.
