Springlike warmth brings record highs across western, central US
Temperatures will be warm enough to set daily high-temperature records along the Interstate 5 corridor from Washington to California through midweek.
Temperatures above average from the West Coast to the Plains
January will end on a warmer note for those in the Plains and Pacific Northwest. Temperatures are forecast to be in the 60s and 70s across the Southwest by Tuesday and are already above average for the West Coast in cities like Seattle and San Francisco.
SEATTLE – A big warmup moves into the Pacific Northwest and the central Plains to round out January, with potential record-high temperatures through midweek for Washington, Oregon and parts of California.
As colder air moves into the Northeast to start the week, warm air is moving into the West, making it feel more like spring is right around the corner. The FOX Forecast Center is tracking temperatures to jump 20-35 degrees above average by Tuesday across the Pacific Northwest, with highs in the 60s and even the lower 70s for some.
"Over 100 million in the warmth – we could see potential record highs even come on the board for the Pacific Northwest," FOX Weather Meteorologist Jane Minar said.
(FOX Weather)
The warmth began to spread across the western states on Sunday, and temperatures on Monday could be even warmer as highs jump into the 60s and 70s.
After a rainy weekend with flooding potential, the warmup began on Sunday in Seattle, where highs will be near or above 60 degrees through at least Tuesday.
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Temperatures will be warm enough to set daily high-temperature records along the Interstate 5 corridor from Washington to California.
In the week ahead, more than 100 new records could be set for daily record-warm low temperatures to round out January.
(FOX Weather)
Cities in Washington, California and Nevada experienced record-high temperatures on Sunday.
Western Washington set new records for high temperatures, including 63 degrees in Olympia, breaking the 1976 record of 60 degrees on Jan. 28.
The Reno-Tahoe International Airport in Nevada set a new record high for Jan. 28 at 69 degrees. According to the National Weather Service office in Reno, the area does not usually reach 69 degrees until late April.
Several cities in California's Bay Area set or tied daily record-high temperatures on Sunday when temperatures hit the lower 70s.
San Jose, California, topped out at 72 degrees – just 6 miles away from Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, where the 49ers defeated the Detroit Lions in the NFC Championship game.
The warmup will continue to threaten record temperatures on Monday, with a forecast high of 66 degrees in Medford, Oregon, while San Francisco will reach nearly 70 degrees.
Billings and Livingston in Montana could see record-high temperatures by Tuesday. Highs in Montana will be more than 20 degrees above average through Wednesday.
Warmth spreads into the Plains
As the week progresses, warmer temperatures will spread across the Plains and the central U.S., where temperatures will soar into the 50s, 60s and even lower 70s.
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While there aren't as many potential record highs, the warmup will be enough to melt snow left over from the early-January snowstorms.
"This warmth is going to certainly aid in more in that snowmelt that we're going to be seeing across the region," Minar said.
(FOX Weather)
Denver is forecast to see a high of 63 degrees on Tuesday, with a high near 60 predicted in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
By midweek, potential record-setting high temperatures will continue to shift east. Minneapolis could reach a high of 48 on Wednesday, and Fargo and Grand Forks in North Dakota will flirt with 50 degrees.
(FOX Weather)
Don’t get too comfortable with the springlike warmth. Cooler temperatures will arrive toward the end of the week, and the FOX Forecast Center is tracking another blast of bitter winter chill to return later in February.