February 2024 will be remembered for the incredible warmth that we had throughout the Plains states. Back in our early month forecast, we thought after Valentine's Day it would turn colder, and it did, but only for two days and then it was replaced by spring. Just days left and here's where the month is tracking in terms of warmest ones on record:
Record highs will be threatened for Monday/Tuesday (Feb. 26-27).
How in the world does it get this warm in February? It's a combination of a large, high pressure ridge (see image below) - that's where the jet stream winds bend toward the north. Underneath, the air sinks and warms.
You also have a west/southwest wind near the ground that is dry, and it warms quickly as it descends in elevation.
Winter isn't over, even though the worst is behind us:
Compare the following maps. The end of February and the first few days in March continue to look unusually warm. It just fits in with how things have been going all month long:
As we go into the first full week of March, the warmth begins to relax as some colder air begins sliding eastward. I believe this is a result of more active weather coming through the Plains. More clouds, more precipitation, etc. should result in more days with highs in the 30s and 40s - not necessarily Arctic air.
And finally as we pass into the second half of March and approach the official start of spring, more cooler than average weather showing up.
And March (as a whole) for precipitation looks wetter than average, which seems to make sense with the ongoing El Nino. I'm wondering if the wet/active weather we had in January is about to repeat in the upcoming 30-40 days. Seems fitting because most Kansans know that March can get a little wild with all kinds of different weather from beginning to end.
Thanks for reading!
No comments:
Post a Comment