February 20, 2018

May-like warmth to challenge records following snow in northeastern US

By Kristina Pydynowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

February 20, 2018, 5:02:22 AM EST

Springlike warmth will quickly surge back in across the northeastern United States following recent snowfall.

The snow from this past weekend will continue to disappear quickly as temperatures soar.

"We had a taste of spring earlier last week, and there will be another dose of these higher-than-average temperatures heading through the first half of the new week as well," AccuWeather Meteorologist Maggie Samuhel said.

Springlike warmth that surged across the southern Plains, South and Ohio Valley at the start of the week will bust out all over across the Eastern states on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Temperatures on Tuesday are forecast to reach the 70s as far north as Columbus, Ohio; Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

Highs in the 50s and 60s are expected elsewhere in the Northeast on a day when highs in the 30s and lower 40s are more common.

While Tuesday is likely to be the warmest day from the southern Plains to the Ohio Valley and eastern Great Lakes, temperatures will continue to climb across the East on Wednesday.

Highs at midweek are expected to range from the 80s and upper 70s across the Southeast, 70s in the mid-Atlantic and the 60s and lower 70s across most of New England.

"The surge of springlike warmth Tuesday into Wednesday across the East will provide temperatures more akin to May rather than the end of February," Samuhel said.

Record highs will be challenged or broken on Tuesday and/or Wednesday in many communities. This includes in Atlanta; Columbia, South Carolina; Raleigh and Charlotte, North Carolina; Washington, D.C.; Baltimore; Pittsburgh and Philadelphia; New York City and Albany, New York; Boston; and Portland, Maine.

Boston and Portland will also be among the communities in New England where all-time February record highs may be challenged.

Dry weather and some sunshine will complement the warmth. Residents will have ample opportunity to partake in spring outdoor activities, including hiking or firing up the grill for dinner.

Instead of cranking up heaters, many may opt to open windows.

There will be a few exceptions to the soaring temperatures. Air flowing in from the colder ocean, as well as the Chesapeake and Delaware bays will limit how warm coastal communities that face southwest can get.

While cold air may hang on longer and lead to an icy mix in northern Maine, rain may put a damper on the warmup elsewhere across the northern Appalachians.

The combination of the rain, milder air and melting snow can cause streams and rivers to rise across the region. Localized flooding may occur. Ice jams can also trigger flooding across the northern tier.

Melting snow can negatively affect ski resorts throughout the East.

While the East basks in the springlike warmth, frigid air will plunge across the West and into the Plains early in the new week.

Flooding from heavy rain will continue to evolve along the boundary separating the two distinctly different air masses.

In addition to the risk of flooding will be the potential for heavy, gusty and perhaps locally severe thunderstorms.

This front will trim the warmth in the Northeast by late week. However, more warm days await the region in late February.

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