Published: October 19,2016
A record-breaking "Indian Summer" heat wave will persist in parts of the East and South through 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.
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
Dozens of Additional Record Highs Likely
Highs in the 70s and 80s will be plentiful in parts of the East and South through Thursday. Yes, even a few 90s are expected in the South. Dozens of daily record highs will continue to fall by the wayside, and some more locations may set their record warmest temperatures so late in the year.And some morning "low" temperatures will feel more like average mid-October highs in some areas. Several cities may continue to set record warm low temperatures as well.
Let's break down the day-by-day highlights:
(MAPS: 10-Day National High/Low Forecast)
Thursday
- 70s 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): Greenville, South Carolina (86 degrees) | Athens, Georgia (90 degrees)
Forecast Highs Compared To Average
Fall Reality Check
By late this week, a cold front will have swept away the record warmth, sending temperatures back to levels more typical of fall.Midweek Forecast Highs
(MORE: Higher-Elevation Snow Ahead in the Northeast After Record-Warm Temperatures)
By 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. Dew points will also drop, allowing the crisp fall air to return.
Low temperatures will also drop with temperatures up to 10 degrees below average in the central U.S. to end the week. Lows will tumble back into the 30s for much of the Midwest and northern Plains Friday and Saturday mornings.
(MAPS: Fall Foliage)
Record-Breaking October Heat Recap
Over 50 daily record highs were tied or broken on Wednesday across the East and South.
Quite a number of high temperature records broken or tied across the Eastern US again today.
- 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)
A very warm day today with lots of high temperature records broken or ties across the Eastern US this afternoon.
- Louisville, Kentucky: 87 degrees
- Montgomery, Alabama: 92 degrees
- San Angelo, Texas: 97 degrees
- Shreveport, Louisiana: 91 degrees
- Tallahassee, Florida: 91 degrees
Dodge City,
KS set their Oct. record high 2 days in a row. Also crushed their
previous rec. latest 100˚+ high date by over 3 weeks!
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.
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.
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.
MORE: Autumn Sunsets
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