More Record Warmth Expected Thursday, But a Fall Reality Check is Incoming

Linda Lam
Published: October 20,2016
One more day of near-record high temperatures is expected in the South Thursday, before a fall reality-check arrives Friday into the weekend.
At least 51 daily record highs were set on Wednesday across 16 states, according to The Weather Channel meteorologist and weather producer, Greg Diamond. The total number of record highs since Saturday is now at least 195. In some areas, it has felt more like August than October.
Daily record highs were broken Wednesday in New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina, Greenville, South Carolina, and Birmingham, Alabama, just to name a few.
Wednesday's high in Birmingham was 91 degrees, making it the latest 90+ degree day on record, breaking the prior record of Oct. 17, 1897.
New York's JFK Airport reached 86 degrees Wednesday afternoon, breaking the previous record high by 11 degrees (75 degrees in 1965).
We have a full recap of all the incredible records, including temperatures topping the century mark in several locations, in our recap section near the bottom of this write-up.

Current Temperatures

Additional Record Highs Possible Thursday

Highs in the 70s and 80s will be plentiful in parts of the East and South on Thursday. Yes, even a few 90s are expected in the South.
Some additional record highs may be set, mainly in the Southeast.
Let's break down the day-by-day highlights:
(MAPS: 10-Day National High/Low Forecast)

Thursday

• 70s and low 80s will persist in parts of the mid-Atlantic States
• 80s with a few low 90s will persist from the lower Mississippi Valley to the Carolinas and Virginia.
• Daily record highs are possible in the Deep South, southern Appalachians and adjacent Piedmont.
• Potential record high cities (current daily record shown): Athens, Georgia (90 degrees) | Greenville, South Carolina (86 degrees) | Montgomery, Alabama (88 degrees)

Forecast Highs Compared To Average

Fall Reality Check Arriving

A cold front is currently sweeping away the record warmth in some areas, sending temperatures back to levels more typical of fall.

Forecast Highs

Temperatures have already trended closer to average in the nation's midsection. On Thursday, highs will be in the 40s, 50s and 60s in the Plains and Upper Midwest.
Friday, the South finally cools off, with highs in the 60s and 70s. Dewpoints will also drop, allowing the crisp fall air to return.
Much of the Northeast is in for a chilly weekend, with temperatures dropping below average. Some snow will fall in the higher elevations of the region. For more details, click the link below.
(MORE: Higher-Elevation Snow Ahead in the Northeast After Record-Warm Temperatures)

Record-Breaking October Heat Recap

Over 50 daily record highs were tied or broken on Wednesday across the East and South.

Among some of Wednesday's other record highs not listed above included:

• Atlanta: 88 degrees
• New Orleans: 92 degrees
• Birmingham, Alabama: 91 degrees (Latest 90+ degree day on record, breaking the prior record of Oct. 17, 1897)
• Knoxville, Tennessee: 88 degrees
• McAllen, Texas: 100 degrees (Extends record for most 100-degree days in a year to 89 days; previous record was 78 days)

Over 40 daily record highs were tied or broken on Tuesday across the East and South.

Among some of Tuesday's other record highs not listed above included:

• Louisville, Kentucky: 87 degrees
• Montgomery, Alabama: 92 degrees
• San Angelo, Texas: 97 degrees
• Shreveport, Louisiana: 91 degrees
• Tallahassee, Florida: 91 degrees

Monday, Dodge City, Kansas, set a new record high for the entire month of October on Monday, topping out at 101 degrees. Records date back to the late 1800s in the southwestern Kansas city. This broke the previous October record high of 99 degrees, set just the day before on Sunday, and tied their hottest temperature of this past summer.

A 100-degree high temperature was recorded in McAllen, Texas, on Monday. This was the latest 100-degree day on record there, surpassing the previous date of Oct. 15, 1957. Perryton, Texas (101), Gage, Oklahoma (102) and Garden City, Kansas (100) also reached the century mark Monday.
A few daily record highs that were set on Monday include:

• St. Louis topped out at 91 degrees, their hottest high temperature so late in the season.
• Moline, Illinois, also sweated through their hottest high temperaure (89 degrees) so late in the season.
• Nashville, Tennessee, reached 86 degrees tying the record high from 2007 and 1965.
• Tulsa, Oklahoma reached 90 degrees, which tied the record high from 2005, 1947 and 1921.
• La Guardia Airport in New York City set a new record high by reaching 83 degrees. The old record was 80 degrees.

Amarillo, Texas, topped out at 98 degrees on Sunday, making it the warmest day so late in the season there. It was also just one degree shy of tying their all-time October record high.
At least one location in Texas reached the triple digits on Sunday. The panhandle town of Perryton near the Oklahoma border was 102 degrees.
Slapout, Oklahoma, also hit 102 degrees on Sunday, making it the hottest temperature so late in the season for the entire state, according to the Oklahoma Climate Survey.
Several daily records were set in the Plains on Saturday, as well.
Record warm low temperatures were also set in ten states on Monday. Many of these records were broken by several degrees including:

• Madison, Wisconsin only dropped to 65 degrees, previous record was 61 degrees.
• Dubuque, Iowa only dipped to 69 degrees, previous record was 61 degrees.
• Chicago, Illinois saw a low of 67 degrees, previous record was 63 degrees.
• Kansas City, Missouri only dropped to 71 degrees, previous record was 67 degrees.
• St. Louis, Missouri reached a low of 72 degrees, previous record was 66 degrees.
• Paducah, Kentucky only dipped to 76 degrees, previous record was 64 degrees.
• Wichita, Kansas only dropped to 70 degrees, previous record was 68 degrees.
• Dallas, Texas recorded a low of 73 degrees, previous record was 72 degrees.

There were also records set for highest dew point so late in the year on Monday.
Rochester, Minnesota, reached a dew point of 68 degrees, breaking the previous record of 68 degrees from October 13, 1962. La Crosse, Wisconsin, tied the highest dew point recorded in October with a dew point of 70 degrees. This was also the highest dew point so late in the year, breaking the previous record of 70 degrees from October 15, 1962.
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