Record Warmth a Potential This Week for the Southeast

Posted: February 21, 2023 12:29 pm

While much of the northern U.S. will see Old Man Winter rearing his ugly head again this week with widespread snow, ice, and frigid temperatures, the Southeast and the mid-Atlantic may see the potential of record-breaking warmth.

Mild Winter to Continue This Week for Southeast and Mid-Atlantic

It has already been a mild winter for this corner of the country. This trend is going to be amplified this week with temperatures hitting what you would expect in late spring rather than late winter. The warmth will be the result of a large area of high pressure that is located near Bermuda in the Atlantic Ocean. Although the high pressure will create calm conditions in this part of the Atlantic, the winds along the western edges of the area will contribute to a good chance of thunderstorms across the Southeast that will pair with the warm readings.

The warmth generated by the offshore high pressure will be created when the winds flow out to the south, sending warm air northward toward the U.S. The Gulf Coast region began to see this first blast of warmth on Monday with the mercury soaring up into the 70s for some areas. This was a change of about 10 – 20 degrees from the day before and an even greater jump from the days prior.

For instance, while readings in New Orleans topped out in the 50s on Friday, the Crescent City hovered near the 80-degree mark on Monday. The average high temperature for the third week in February is around 68 degrees in New Orleans.

The northern tier of Alabama and the Atlanta area all enjoyed temperatures in the 70s to start the work week. This warmth reached as far west and north as Tennessee.

More Unseasonable Warmth on Tap for Tuesday and Beyond

The mass of unseasonable warmth will continue to spread northward on Tuesday, reaching portions of the mid-Atlantic. For example, Richmond, Virginia is forecast to hit about 70 degrees on Tuesday under mostly sunny skies. While the snow storm to the north of this part of the Atlantic Seaboard will bring the mercury down slightly on Wednesday, the temperature will skyrocket into the mid 80s on Thursday.

Thursday will be warm throughout much of the Southeast with widespread readings in the 80s. Charlotte will see the potential of record-breaking temperatures on this day with a forecast high of 83 degrees. It will be even warmer in Raleigh with an expected high of around 86 degrees. Should this reading come to fruition, it would break a record for the highest temperature ever recorded in February in this college town.

The widespread 80s will move to the south, bringing the warmth to the Gulf Coast and into Florida. South Florida may see readings that break through the 90-degree plateau on Friday. For instance, Fort Myers has a high of 90 degrees currently in the forecast to bring the work week to an end.

Mid-Atlantic to Get in on February Warmth

It will also be a pleasant week for temperatures across much of the mid-Atlantic. The bulk of the Interstate 95 corridor in Virginia and North Carolina will see the temperature hit the 80s. You may even see this barrier come down in Washington, D.C. on Thursday.

The dividing line for the warmth and the cold will stretch across the state of Pennsylvania with the southern half seeing readings that settle in the 70s during the warmest part of the week while the northern tier does not see the mercury climb out of the 40s.

While this temperature back and forth may feel like a roller coaster ride, it is important to note that this is typical for this time of the year. The late winter and early season is often distinguished by wild temperature swings and this year is shaping up to be no different.

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