Big Warmup to Impact South, Ohio Valley and East Into Early Next Week (FORECAST)

Quincy Vagell
Published: January 30,2016

Unseasonably warm conditions are giving the southern Plains an early taste of spring, where several record high temperatures have been set or tied since Friday. This kind of warmth, more characteristic of April than late January, will spread east into the first few days of February.
At the same time, Winter Storm Kayla will take shape across the western and central United States, dropping a swath of heavy snow across much of the country.
While blizzard conditions are expected early this upcoming week from the central Plains into the Upper Midwest, Winter Storm Kayla will not bring heavy snow to parts of the East Coast that were buried by Winter Storm Jonas just over a week ago.
(MORE: Another Blizzard? )

Setup Early Next Week

The pattern ahead of Winter Storm Kayla favors warmer than average temperatures over the eastern half of the U.S. over the next few days.
Here is a look at what to expect by region.

Feeling Like Spring in the South

The warmth spreads east through the second half of the weekend, as high pressure establishes itself off the Carolinas, a setup more typical of early spring than mid-winter.
An unseasonably warm southwest flow around the high will push temperatures well into the 60s and 70s over the South on Sunday.

Forecast Highs Saturday to Monday

Parts of south and central Texas will see temperatures into the 80s again on Sunday, following up an already steamy Saturday. Temperatures this warm are fairly unusual for late January and have led to some record highs being broken or tied.
Wichita Falls, Texas smashed their daily record high temperature by seven degrees on Saturday after reaching 82 degrees. Records go back to 1923 at Wichita Falls.
Other daily record high temperatures broken or tied on Saturday include San Angelo, Texas (85 degrees); Childress, Texas (82 degrees); Amarillo, Texas (79 degrees); Oklahoma City (76 degrees); McAlester, Oklahoma (73 degrees, tied); Joplin, Missouri (68 degrees); Paducah, Kentucky (65 degrees).
(FORECAST: Brownsville, Texas | San Antonio)
In Little Rock, Arkansas, highs may reach the lower 70s on Sunday, temperatures more common for early April than the first day of February.
Warmth and Storms Early Next Week
As Winter Storm Kayla develops over the Plains early next week, the warmth will be driven even farther east, as parts of Georgia and South Carolina could rise into the 70s. High temperatures may flirt with 80 degrees over southern Florida and once again in South Texas.
The warm, unstable air coupled with a southward plunge of the jet stream will set the stage for thunderstorm development as well. The greatest threat for severe weather will be over the Deep South and Tennessee Valley on Tuesday.
(MORE: Severe Weather Outbreak Possible Next Week)
The thunderstorms will signal an end to the warmth, as a strong cold front races east across the region, ushering in colder air for the middle and latter portion of the week.

Ohio Valley to Northeast: Starting to Warm Up

High pressure pushing off the coast of the Carolinas is driving warmer air north and east through portions of the Midwest and Ohio Valley.
Highs will reach the 50s to mid-60s across Indiana, Kentucky and Virginia on Sunday, a solid 5 to 15 degrees above average. Temperatures remained near average in the Northeast on Saturday, but a warm front lifting through the region will signal changes for the second half of the weekend.

Forecast Highs Sunday to Tuesday

Warmer air continues to nudge northeast on Sunday, with 50s and 60s across the Ohio Valley and 40s are far north as parts of northern New England.
Unusual Warmth to Start February
Some of the most impressive warmth is anticipated early next week, as widespread temperatures 10 to 20 degrees above average will be common from the Midwest to the New England coast.
In early February, average high temperatures in central New England are close to the freezing mark. Come Monday and Tuesday morning, even the low temperatures may not fall below the mid-30s here, with daytime highs soaring into the 50s.
(FORECAST: Concord, New Hampshire | Rutland, Vermont)
For Charleston, West Virginia, highs are forecast to reach the mid-60s on Tuesday, which is a little more than 20 degrees above average. Despite this warmth, Charleston will likely fall short of Tuesday’s record high of 73 degrees.
Needless to say, the warmth will significantly chip away at any remaining snow cover across the areas recently hit the hardest Winter Storm Jonas.

Forecast Highs Compared to Average

As Winter Storm Kayla swings into the Great Lakes, its trailing cold front will approach the Appalachians by midweek. Temperatures over the Midwest and Ohio Valley will quickly cool down behind the front.
(FORECAST: Columbus, Ohio | Indianapolis | Lexington, Kentucky)
The cold front is forecast to reach the East Coast on Wednesday, capping off a string of unseasonably warm days. A few gusty thunderstorms may accompany the front’s passage Wednesday afternoon or evening over the mid-Atlantic.
After the front moves offshore, considerably cooler air is anticipated to wrap up next week.
MORE: Winter Storm Jonas in Pictures