Temperatures Soar in the Central U.S.

The warm weather has been a bit of a theme for much of 2024! It makes you wonder, "Was Phil right?" Punxsutawney Phil predicted that Spring would arrive early this year earlier this month and might have been on to something. On Wednesday, record-high temperatures were broken all across the Plains.

Temperatures will be well above average again today, by about 15-20° through the central and southern Plains as well as the Mid-South. Prepare for another day of widespread 70s and even 80s in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas!

Temperatures stay mild through the end of the week and into the weekend. We may see a few degrees drop on Thursday into Friday as a front slides through, but highs will still be at or slightly above normal.

The warmth comes with strong upper-level winds running parallel to the highest elevation in New Mexico and West Texas. Those winds "downslope" or rush off the highest elevations, leading to strong surface-level winds that help to increase the temperatures but also can lead to fire danger. On Wednesday winds gusted in the range of 60-70 mph along the Front Range of New Mexico and Colorado!

Long-term, the Climate Prediction Center issued their Spring outlook last week HERE. Will Phil's forecast hold for the rest of the winter weeks to come? Only time will tell. Spring officially starts on Tuesday, March 19. Wondering what Phil's recent history has been - we've got it HERE