Early Spring Sets New Temperature Records From Minnesota to Maine, Into Canada 122-Year Marks Smashed

March 19 Update: Toronto has broken the high temperature record for March 19; as of 4 pm EDT, the temperature is 19°C:
High of 18 breaks Toronto warm weather record

The temperature of 16°C at Ottawa also smashes the record of 12.4°C in 1986.

Image (click to enlarge): High temperatures for March 17, from Unisys

Evening Update: More records on March 18:

Wausau WI    62 (61, 1918/1903)
Rochester MN 60 (tied 1945) 

Toronto's period of record (1938-2009) is somewhat shorter, but today's high temperature of 18°C was just short of the record 18.9°C. in 1966. Tomorrow's forecast high temperature of 18°C, if it occurs, will easily break the record of 14.2°C set on March 19, 1986.

Several Canadian locations set records on March 17 (Canada basks in record high temperatures). Records were set in Montreal, Ottawa, and Halifax as well as in places as far apart as Manitoba and New Brunswick. So far, March has been the warmest on record in many places following a very warm winter.

Original post:


2 PM Update: Added records for New York, Maine

Early spring warmth has set or tied daily temperature records across the northern Midwest, New York, and New England in the past week. New records reported by the National Weather Service include (old record and date in parentheses):

March 17
Sault Ste. Marie MI 58 (56, 1946)
Massena NY          61 (59, 1990)
Portland ME         64 (62, 1990)
Bangor ME           62 (tied 1936)
Caribou ME          54 (45, 2007)
Houlton ME          55 (tied 1936)

March 16
Sault Ste. Marie MI 62 (56, 2003)
Bangor ME           60 (58, 1927)
Caribou ME          57 (48, 1971)
Houlton ME          56 (52, 1973)
Millinocket ME      59 (54, 1946)

March 15
Duluth MN           60 (57, 1995)
Sault Ste. Marie MI 63 (52, 1990)
Caribou ME          54 (51, 1977)

March 14
Eau Claire WI          66 (65, 1973)
Minneapolis MN         64 (62, 1878/1973/1990)
International Falls MN 54 (tied 1911)
Caribou ME             51 (50, 1996)

March 13
Sault Ste. Marie MI 62 (58, 1995)
Sault Ste. Marie MI 44 (38, 1946/1929) record warmest minimum

March 11
Sault Ste. Marie MI 50 (47, 2007)
Sault Ste. Marie MI 41 (39, 1902) record warmest minimum

March 9
Sault Ste. Marie MI 55 (49, 1898/2000)

Note that Sault Ste. Marie has set 5 records in the last 7 days. Only 2 days in February were below average, and none in March. The last 8 consecutive days have each been at least 20° above average. The monthly average for March through the 17th is an amazing 16.7° above average. The long-term average for this time of year is a low of 15 and a high of 32. Records began at Sault Ste. Marie in 1888.

Caribou has also had only 2 days below average since Feb. 1. Every day except one from Feb. 8 through March 8 was at least 10° above average. February overall averaged 10.7° above average, and March is continuing to average the same amount of warmth.

Image (click to enlarge): March 2010 daily temperatures at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan from National Weather Service