Springlike temperatures to spread across the nation early week
AccuWeather meteorologists say that a long-awaited pattern change of warmer weather is spreading across the nation this week and a respite from the dreary winter weather and persistent cold that has plagued many since early January.
The final week of February is set to be an unseasonably warm one across the Northeast.
A long-awaited and refreshing pattern change will continue to expand across the nation over the upcoming days, AccuWeather meteorologists say, with a wave of much-needed warmth spreading from the Midwest and Northeast to the southern United States.
This week, a northward bulge in the jet stream will be responsible for ushering in waves of persistently warmer conditions across the nation in addition to mainly dry weather. As a result, most locations will notice a peak in temperatures into midweek with a gradual decline from late week into the upcoming weekend.
A period of relief from the persistent chill
Following a rather chilly start to the year with temperature departures ranging several degrees below the historical average across the Northern and Central states, the period of warmer weather will be openly welcomed by many.
"For some locations in the northern half of the country, it hasn't been above freezing for at least a week, if not two weeks. This notable warm up will finally bring many spots well above the 32-degree mark for an extended period of time," explained AccuWeather Meteorologist Grady Gilman.
Most locations this week will observe high temperatures between 10-15 degrees F above the historical average for late February, closer in comparison to typical late-March or early April values.
Dramatic differences from late week values
As the core of the cold set in across the central United States late last week, numerous cities observed early morning temperatures several degrees below zero, even reaching lower than negative 30 degrees across portions of Nebraska, the Dakotas and Montana.
Early week, temperatures will continue to climb across the Plains and interior Northeast. High temperatures on Tuesday ranged from the 60s to the 70s F, a huge temperature difference on the order of 70-100 degrees compared to last week's values.
Across the East, the warmup will not be as pronounced as it will be in the Plains, but appreciated nonetheless. The chances for highs to range in the 40s and 50s F across the mid-Atlantic states will help melt any lingering snow piles or ice-covered surfaces.
"In much of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, the warmup really began in earnest on Monday and will peak from Tuesday to Wednesday before a cool front trims temperatures back for Thursday and Friday," explained AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski.
Pydynowski added that afternoon highs could approach the mid-50s F again on Wednesday in New York City after reaching the 57 F mark on Tuesday. That observed value at Central Park the second highest temperature reading there since a high of 58 F back on Dec. 30, 2024!
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In the Southeast, the cooler weather will take its time departing the region as the week kicks off, forecasters highlight. Cities like Charlotte, North Carolina and Nashville, Tennessee, climbed into the 60s F on Monday, and slightly warmer values will arrive into midweek.
Through the end of the month into the start of March, forecasters warn that temperatures can fluctuate back and forth between bursts of pleasant, springlike values and cold intrusions, as is typical during the transition periods between seasons.
The official first day of meteorological spring is less than one week away on March 1, while the spring equinox falls a few weeks later on March 20. While temperatures early this week may only bring a taste of what is to come over the upcoming weeks and months, it has been long awaited by many cold-weary residents across the nation.
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