We’re officially entering fake spring—a short period of warmer-than-normal weather in which puffer coats are unnecessary, and you might even be able to get away with wearing shorts. For the first time in many weeks, radiators will go silent, and windows will be cracked open. The intermittent shift to spring-like weather is forecasted to affect 30 states, starting as early as this weekend. Read on to learn how your region will be impacted.
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Forecasters predict above-normal temperatures next week.
Starting Monday, folks in Arizona, Alaska, New Mexico, Florida, and southern parts of Utah, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia are expected to have "likely above" normal temperatures, per a National Weather Service report.
By region, the Southwest and Southeast are teetering between "likely above" and "leaning above" normal temperatures. However, the Northwest and Northeast could bring in "likely below" normal temperatures. The Midwest is split, with southernmost states clocking "near normal" digits, while northernmost states have a 50 to 70 percent chance of "likely below" normal digits.
But by the second week of February, a majority of the country will be reaching near normal or above normal temps.
By Feb. 15, most regions will be warmer than 50 degrees.
Things are heating up! During the first half of February, temperatures in parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia, and Florida could reach above 80 degrees Fahrenheit, according to The Washington Post. Most of the South will experience prime T-shirt weather, with temps hovering between 70 and 80 degrees.
Forecasters predict that nearly half of the U.S.—as outlined in the list below–will be warmer than 60 degrees between Jan. 31 and Feb. 15:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Eastern Colorado
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- Southern Arizona
- Southern California
- Southern Illinois
- Southern Indiana
- Southern Kansas
- Southern Missouri
- Southern New Mexico
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Virginia
- Western Nevada
- Western Utah
- West Virginia
Additionally, Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Michigan, and Pennsylvania could hit 50 degrees Fahrenheit during this period. This would be a very dramatic shift in temperatures, considering these areas were among those most severely impacted by the recent polar vortex, which brought gusts of Arctic wind and subzero temps.
Why the sudden heat wave?
Heavy precipitation, including potential snow, is coming for the Northwest due to an "atmospheric river," per the Post. This sudden weather pattern is due to a "strong jet stream," which will blast "mild Pacific air deeper into the country."
But don’t bid your winter coats adieu just yet! It’s too soon to tell whether this short heat wave is the beginning of spring or just a little tease of what’s to come later this year.
