Eastern US to ride temperature roller coaster during beginning of March

After record warmth baked the eastern U.S. during the last full week of February, winter will seek its revenge during the first week of March.

For residents enjoying and basking in the recent springlike warmth, one more round of unseasonably warm temperatures is imminent before winter’s chill makes a comeback.

“March will kick off with another round of near record-breaking temperatures in the Midwest and along the Eastern Seaboard,” said AccuWeather Meteorologist Faith Eherts.

High temperatures will soar into the 70s F across the southern mid-Atlantic and Carolinas to the mid-Mississippi Valley, with 60s as far north as Interstate 80 from Chicago to New York through Wednesday.

Although temperatures will be slashed by 10 to 20 degrees in the Midwest on Wednesday, residents from the Southeast to southern New England will bask in May-like warmth as temperatures reach 20 to 25 degrees above average.

This spring preview will provide an ideal setting for outdoor activities such as golfing, hiking, biking and early season cookouts in areas that dodge gusty thunderstorms.

However, those spending an extended period of time outside in the sun should remember to apply sunscreen before walking out the door. The sun angle in early March is equal to that of early October.

As quickly as the warmth returns, a storm system is set to barrel across the country during the middle of the week and wash the spring preview away.

Eherts added that this storm will usher in cold air from the Midwest to the mid-Atlantic and New England.

“While temperatures will remain near or slightly below average in most locations, the steep temperature drop and gusty winds will make the late week and weekend weather feel strikingly colder,” Eherts said.

By Friday, temperatures will struggle to exceed 40 degrees in the Interstate 95 corridor from Boston to Washington, D.C., while interior regions get stuck near or below the freezing mark.

A bit of snow may accompany the colder air from the Midwest to the mid-Atlantic on Thursday into Friday.

Eherts mentioned that winter weather enthusiasts should take advantage of the weekend weather in the Northeast before milder air briefly builds back in by early next week.

“With an active weather pattern ahead for March, another warmth-busting cold front could impact the eastern U.S. again next week,” Eherts added. 

It is quite possible that this chaotic pattern of 25- to 35-degree temperature swings over two or three days repeats at least a few times during March.

The upcoming temperature roller coaster is likely to not only have an effect on humans and their seasonal time clocks, but also on early-blooming trees and plants.

In recent days, many spring flowers and ornamental trees have bloomed in parts of the Plains, Midwest and mid-Atlantic regions.

"The additional surges of warmth will cause more buds to break and blossom ahead of average in the coming weeks," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.

"As waves of cold air and spells of warmth trade places, the blossoming will be slowed in some cases, but there will also be the risk of some fruit trees and perennial spring flowers being damaged," Sosnowski said.

While the famous cherry trees along the tidal basin in Washington, D.C., have not yet burst into color, blossoming is likely to be well ahead of average this year and can occur at any time over the next couple of weeks.

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