Record Temperatures Reach Mid-Atlantic; 120-Year Washington, Baltimore Minimums Broken

Feb. 18 Update: Added more reports for Ohio, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina.

Midnight Update: The midnight temperatures are: National 59°, Dulles 55°, and BWI 55°, so the record high minimums hold.

Quantico and College Park are still at 60° and 61°, respectively. On the Maryland Eastern Shore, Ocean City is a summer-like 65°, and Salisbury is 63°.

The National Climatic Data Center preliminary report shows nearly 200 new record highs on Feb. 18 alone. Following a similar number the previous day, the month-to-date count is now almost tied with record lows.

6 PM Update: Nearly all major National Weather Service reporting locations in Pennsylvania tied or broke high temperature records (see list below). Reports to be added as available.

Original post:
Temperatures soared into the 70s for the second consecutive time today in the DMV (DC/Maryland/Virginia) region. The highs of 77° at Washington National and 75° at Dulles were both new records, and the 74° at Baltimore/BWI missed the record by only 1°. The Washington high is 30° above normal.

In addition, the morning lows were all new record high minimums. Assuming they hold through midnight, which appears to be likely, the minimums will break 120-year-old records.

Note that these record high February temperatures, which follow a record hot summer, broke records which followed the previously warmest summer of 1980.

The new records (old records and dates in parentheses) are:

                     High           Low
Washington National  77 (76, 1981)  52 (50, 1891)   
Washington Dulles    75 (73, 1981)  53 (50, 1976)  
Baltimore/BWI                       51 (50, 1891) 

More records set or tied in other states:

Zanesville OH    66 (64, 2006)
Youngstown OH    59 (tie, 1994)
Greenville SC    78 (73, 1916)
Raleigh NC       78 (75, 1948)
Greensboro NC    75 (71, 2008)
Charlotte NC     78 (tie, 1891) 
Richmond VA      77 (tie, 1976) 
Wallops Is. VA   73 (64, 1986) 
Danville VA      77 (tie, 1976) 
Lynchburg VA     75 (tie, 1927)
Blacksburg VA    65 (tie, 1976) 
Roanoke VA       72 (tie, 1971) 
Pittsburgh PA    66 (65, 1981)
Williamsport PA  66 (63, 1981)
Harrisburg PA    69 (tie, 1890)
Allentown PA     67 (66, 2008)
Philadelphia PA  69 (tie, 1891, 1890)
Reading PA       71 (70, 1981)
Atlantic City NJ 72 (69, 1981)
Trenton NJ       72 (tie, 1890)
Newark NJ        71 (69, 1981)
Kennedy Airpt NY 67 (57, 1981) 
LaGuardia NY     67 (66, 1981)
Binghamton NY    58 (57, 1981)

Image (click to enlarge): U.S. surface temperature map at 3 pm EST, February 18, 2011, shows 70° readings as far north as the Mason-Dixon line (from Unisys)

Nano Ice Age Update II: Record Temperatures From Kansas to New Jersey

8 PM CST Update: Additional records, including Lincoln, Illinois breaking a century-old record by 4°:

Des Moines IA  68 (tie, 1981)
Lincoln IL     63 (59, 1911) 
Peoria IL      64 (tie, 1890)
Springfield IL 68 (67, 1911 and 1890)
Muskegon MI    51 (50, 2008 and 1911)  
Zanesville OH  66 (64, 2006) 
Beckley WV     66 (63, 1975)
Huntington WV  70 (tie, 1975)
Bluefield WV   66 (65, 1961) 
Harrisburg PA  67 (65, 1891)
Binghamton NY  55 (tie, 1981)   

Original post:
As warm air spread eastward from the southern Plains, more daily high temperature records were set or tied today across a wide area and by wide margins. In several cases, those margins were as much as 5 degrees in periods of record extending back over a century. For example, Burlington, Iowa, whose observations began in 1897, saw its old record from 1994 smashed by 5° with a reading of 66°.

Rolla, Missouri broke its 1971 record by 4° with a reading of 73°. Records there date back to 1888.

Columbia, Missouri smashed its 1994 record by 6° with a high of 74°. The period of record in Columbia began in 1890.

The St. Louis high of 76° missed a century-old record by only 1°.

Other record reports from the National Weather Service (old record and date in parentheses):

Topeka KS      76 (74, 1913)
Wichita KS     78 (75, 1970)
Moline IL      63 (62, 1981)
Kansas City MO 74 (72, 1970) 
Joplin MO      74 (73, 1971)
Trenton NJ     67 (tie, 1976) [records began 1865]
Newark NJ      66 (tie, 1976)
Reading PA     64 (tie, 1976) [records began 1869] 

More reports to be added as they become available.

Washington's 2nd February Day of 70°+, 3rd on Tap

Today's high of 72° in Washington was the second this month of 70° or higher, and there's a third one on tap for tomorrow. While unusual, this event is not unique. The last time there were 2 days with 70°+ in February was in 2000. There were 4 such events in 1997.

The record for February since observations began at or near the current location of National Airport in 1930 was 7 in 1976, which benefited from being a leap year. There were 2 spans of 3 consecutive days each: Feb. 16-18 (73°, 79°, and 76°) and Feb. 27-29 (71°, 74°, and 77°). The high was also 71° on Feb. 25 that year.

The chart shows all of the previous years since 1930 with 2 or more 70°+ days in February.

Nano Ice Age Update: Records Roasted

11 PM CST Update: Imperial, Nebraska absolutely crushed its old record by 7° with a high of 76°, which was 32° above average. The previous record of 69° was set in 1970 and tied in 1981. Records at Imperial began nearly 120 years ago, in 1893.

North Platte, Nebraska blasted through its old record by 5° with a high of 71°. The previous record was set 130 years ago, in 1880, and tied in 1916 and 1981. North Platte records date back to 1874.

Another long-period record was broken by a wide margin at Valentine, Nebraska, where the high of 71° exceeded the old record of 65° from 1951 by 6°. Records at Valentine began in 1885.

Temperatures in the mid 60s reached into South Dakota, where downtown Rapid City hit 66°, tying the record set in 1916. The airport reading of 67° exceeded the old record of 63° set in 1950 and tied in 1981. Records have been kept at Rapid City since 1888.

8 PM CST Update: Another record report from the National Weather Service:

THE MEDICINE LODGE AIRPORT [Kansas] ALSO SET A RECORD HIGH OF 77 DEGREES. THE PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 75 DEGREES SET IN 1898 AND THEN TIED IN 1934. RECORDS DATE BACK TO 1893.

6 PM CST Update: The preliminary record at Garden City is 81° at 4:48. This is 31° above normal for the date.

Original post:
A surge of early spring heat is tumbling high temperature records across the southern Plains from Texas to Nebraska.

The 86° at Midland, Texas at 3:22 pm local time blasted away the old record for February 16 of 81° from 2006. Midland climate records began in 1930.

At 2:30 local time, Dodge City, Kansas reported a temperature of 76°, which exceeded by 2° the previous record originally set almost a century ago in 1916 and tied 50 years ago in 1961. By 4 pm, the temperature had reached 80°, beating the old record by 6°. Dodge City climate records began in 1874.

Garden City, Kansas also broke its 1961 record by 2° with its reading of 78°. The temperature there continued to rise to 80° by 3 pm. It's held at that level for the next 2 hours. Garden City climate records began in 1948.

Some other records reported by the National Weather Service (old record and date in parentheses):

Sidney NE      68 (66, 1950)
Scottsbluff NE 67 (tie, 1916)
Chadron NE     68 (64, 1982)
Russell KS     73 (71, 1961)
Goodland KS    75 (72, 1991) 
Rolla MO       72 (tie, 2006) 

Updates to be posted as they become available.

Image (click to enlarge): U.S. temperature map as of 4 pm CST, February 16, 2011, shows 60° readings as far north as Wyoming and South Dakota, from Unisys

Shortest Ice Age on Record? Whole Lotta Meltin' Goin' On

Here's an update on how that ice age is coming along:
Nano Ice Age Update: Records Roasted

With all the hoopla recently about record snowfalls, all-time record low temperatures, and so forth, here's a chart you're not likely to see on the ice-age monger sites. At midnight EST on February 14, the middle of February, the U.S. temperature map above (from Unisys, click to enlarge) shows that these are the only substantial areas in the contiguous 48 states with temperatures below 30°:

• Central Rockies
• Eastern Montana and extreme northeastern Wyoming
• Extreme northern border of Minnesota
• Northern Vermont and New Hampshire
• Non-coastal Maine

The Weather Channel reported on-air this evening that the area of the U.S. with snow on the ground decreased by over 10 percentage points in the last 24 hours.

Oklahoma All-Time Record Low Temperature

Following yesterday's heavy snow, the Oklahoma Climatological Survey reported this afternoon that a new all-time state low temperature record was unofficially set at Nowata with a reading of -31°:

The Oklahoma Mesonet station at Nowata reached a low temperature of -31 degrees this morning. Pending verification procedures by NOAA's National Climatic Data Center, that mark will eclipse the previous statewide record low temperature of -27 degrees. The previous record was set at Vinita in February 1905 and at Watts in January 1930. Numerous other low-temperature records were broken this morning across the state, with several locations dropping below the previous statewide record. The National Weather Service site in Bartlesville recorded -28 degrees this morning, as did the Oklahoma Mesonet site at Pryor.

Other extreme low temperatures are shown below:

Tulsa Record Update: Snowiest Month and Season in History

8 PM Update: This is now the snowiest February on record and the 2nd snowiest month of all time at Oklahoma City. The National Weather Service reports:

• 8th Highest Total Seasonal Snowfall - 19.6"
• Last year's seasonal snowfall (5th Highest) - 23.2".
• 2nd Highest Monthly Snowfall Total - 18.9" in February 2011 (Highest 20.7" in March 1924)
• Snowiest February on Record - 18.9", shattering the previous record of 12.9" in 1913
• 2nd Highest storm total snowfall - 12.1" on January 31 - February 1 (tied with January 5 - 7, 1988). The highest of 13.5" occurred on December 24, 2009.
• 2nd Highest 24-hour snowfall - 12.1" on January 31 - February 1. The highest of 13.5" occurred on December 24, 2009.

1 PM Update: The 5.7" of snow as of noon brings the monthly total for Tulsa to 22.5" and the seasonal total to 26.1". These are both all-time records.

Snowfall map and list of observations have been updated; added map for western Oklahoma, including Oklahoma City area.

Noon Update: The National Weather Service reports that up to 2 feet of snow has made travel virtually impossible in parts of northeastern Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas:

A 35 MILE WIDE SWATH OF VERY HEAVY SNOW HAS FALLEN FROM AROUND 
PONCA CITY OK... TO NEAR AND SOUTH OF BARTLESVILLE... TO NEAR AND 
SOUTH OF JAY OK... ACROSS THE FAYETTEVILLE AND BENTONVILLE AREAS 
AND ON INTO THE NORTHERN ARKANSAS. WITHIN THIS BAND OF SNOW 18 TO 
25 INCHES OF SNOW HAS FALLEN. THIS BAND OF SNOW WAS PART OF THE 
LARGER AREA OF HEAVY SNOW THAT HAS FALLEN OVER MUCH OF EASTERN 
OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST AND WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS. 

TRAVEL HAS BECOME VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE IN THE HEAVIEST SNOW AREAS. 
WINDS OF 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 25 MPH HAVE RESULTED IN 
SIGNIFICANT BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF THE SNOW. DRIFTS UP TO 4 FEET 
HAVE BEEN REPORTED.     

Original post:
As of 9 am CST this morning, the National Weather Service is reporting a preliminary snowfall total of 5.1" at Tulsa. This would make the monthly total to date 21.9", which unofficially breaks the previous record of 19.7" in March 1924. The seasonal total of 25.5" is the second highest on record. At 10 am, moderate snow is continuing at Tulsa.

Here are some other Oklahoma and Arkansas snowfall totals from the NWS:

  IN OKLAHOMA... 

25.00 INCHES OF SNOW 4 MILES SOUTH OF JAY IN DELAWARE COUNTY  
24.00 INCHES OF SNOW 1 MILES SOUTH OF JAY IN DELAWARE COUNTY  
23.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT JAY IN DELAWARE COUNTY  
23.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT SPAVINAW IN MAYES COUNTY  
22.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT COLCORD IN DELAWARE COUNTY  
21.00 INCHES OF SNOW 3 MILES EAST OF BIG CABIN IN CRAIG COUNTY  
19.00 INCHES OF SNOW 9 MILES NORTHEAST OF CLAREMORE IN ROGERS COUNTY  
18.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT PAWHUSKA IN OSAGE COUNTY  
18.00 INCHES OF SNOW 2 MILES SOUTHEAST OF PRYOR IN MAYES COUNTY  
17.00 INCHES OF SNOW 2 MILES SOUTH OF PAWHUSKA IN OSAGE COUNTY  
16.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT BURBANK IN OSAGE COUNTY  
16.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT ADAIR IN MAYES COUNTY  
16.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT OCHELATA IN WASHINGTON COUNTY  
15.00 INCHES OF SNOW 5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF KANSAS IN ADAIR COUNTY  
14.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT RAMONA IN WASHINGTON COUNTY  
14.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT FAIRFAX IN OSAGE COUNTY  
14.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT WESTVILLE IN ADAIR COUNTY  
13.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT BARTLESVILLE IN WASHINGTON COUNTY  
12.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT PRYOR IN MAYES COUNTY  
12.00 INCHES OF SNOW 1 MILES SOUTH OF COPAN IN WASHINGTON COUNTY  
11.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT RALSTON IN PAWNEE COUNTY  
11.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT COPAN IN WASHINGTON COUNTY  
10.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT LANGLEY IN MAYES COUNTY  
9.00 INCHES OF SNOW 3 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BARTLESVILLE IN OSAGE COUNTY  
9.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT CLAREMORE IN ROGERS COUNTY  
8.50 INCHES OF SNOW AT COLLINSVILLE IN TULSA COUNTY  
8.30 INCHES OF SNOW 5 MILES NORTHWEST OF SPERRY IN OSAGE COUNTY  
8.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT VINITA IN CRAIG COUNTY  
8.00 INCHES OF SNOW 6 MILES EAST-NORTHEAST OF OWASSO IN ROGERS COUNTY  
8.00 INCHES OF SNOW 3 MILES EAST OF OWASSO IN ROGERS COUNTY  
8.00 INCHES OF SNOW 1 MILES EAST OF TAHLEQUAH IN CHEROKEE COUNTY  
7.00 INCHES OF SNOW 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF GROVE IN DELAWARE COUNTY  
6.50 INCHES OF SNOW 1 MILES EAST OF OWASSO IN TULSA COUNTY  
6.50 INCHES OF SNOW 5 MILES EAST OF BROKEN ARROW IN WAGONER COUNTY  
6.50 INCHES OF SNOW AT MUSKOGEE IN MUSKOGEE COUNTY  
6.00 INCHES OF SNOW 5 MILES SOUTH OF BROKEN ARROW IN TULSA COUNTY  
6.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT PAWNEE IN PAWNEE COUNTY  
6.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT HOMINY IN OSAGE COUNTY  
6.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT NOWATA IN NOWATA COUNTY  
6.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT VERDIGRIS IN ROGERS COUNTY  
6.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT WELCH IN CRAIG COUNTY  
6.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT GROVE IN DELAWARE COUNTY  
6.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT EUFAULA IN MCINTOSH COUNTY  
6.00 INCHES OF SNOW 5 MILES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF OWASSO IN ROGERS COUNTY  
6.00 INCHES OF SNOW 4 MILES SOUTH OF TULSA IN TULSA COUNTY  
6.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT SALLISAW IN SEQUOYAH COUNTY  
5.50 INCHES OF SNOW 4 MILES EAST OF TULSA IN TULSA COUNTY  
5.50 INCHES OF SNOW 4 MILES WEST OF BROKEN ARROW IN TULSA COUNTY  
5.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT MIAMI IN OTTAWA COUNTY  
5.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT MUSE IN LE FLORE COUNTY  
4.50 INCHES OF SNOW AT TULSA IN TULSA COUNTY  
4.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT CATOOSA IN ROGERS COUNTY  
4.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT POTEAU IN LE FLORE COUNTY  
3.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT OKEMAH IN OKFUSKEE COUNTY  
3.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT TAHLEQUAH IN CHEROKEE COUNTY  
3.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT MCALESTER IN PITTSBURG COUNTY  
3.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT BOKOSHE IN LE FLORE COUNTY  
3.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT JENKS IN TULSA COUNTY  
2.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT STILWELL IN ADAIR COUNTY  
2.00 INCHES OF SNOW 2 MILES SOUTH OF POTEAU IN LE FLORE COUNTY  
2.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT CLAYTON IN PUSHMATAHA COUNTY  
1.00 INCH OF SNOW AT HUGO IN CHOCTAW COUNTY  
1.00 INCH OF SNOW AT TALIHINA IN LE FLORE COUNTY  
0.50 INCH OF SNOW AT ANTLERS IN PUSHMATAHA COUNTY  

IN ARKANSAS... 

24.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT CLIFTY IN MADISON COUNTY  
24.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT GRAVETTE IN BENTON COUNTY  
24.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT HINDSVILLE IN MADISON COUNTY  
22.00 INCHES OF SNOW 1 MILES SOUTHEAST OF HUNTSVILLE IN MADISON COUNTY  
22.00 INCHES OF SNOW 3 MILES NORTH OF SILOAM SPRINGS IN BENTON COUNTY  
22.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT ROGERS IN BENTON COUNTY  
21.50 INCHES OF SNOW AT GENTRY IN BENTON COUNTY  
21.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT SPRINGDALE IN WASHINGTON COUNTY  
20.00 INCHES OF SNOW 5 MILES WEST OF GENTRY IN BENTON COUNTY  
20.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT HUNTSVILLE IN MADISON COUNTY  
20.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT TONTITOWN IN WASHINGTON COUNTY  
20.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT HIGHFILL IN BENTON COUNTY  
20.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT LOWELL IN BENTON COUNTY  
19.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT JOHNSON IN WASHINGTON COUNTY  
19.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT GREENLAND IN WASHINGTON COUNTY  
18.50 INCHES OF SNOW 2 MILES SOUTH OF SPRINGDALE IN WASHINGTON COUNTY  
18.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT ELM SPRINGS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY  
18.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT SILOAM SPRINGS IN BENTON COUNTY  
18.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT FAYETTEVILLE IN WASHINGTON COUNTY  
18.00 INCHES OF SNOW 3 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BENTONVILLE IN BENTON COUNTY  
17.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT KINGSTON IN MADISON COUNTY  
17.00 INCHES OF SNOW 2 MILES SOUTH OF ROGERS IN BENTON COUNTY  
17.00 INCHES OF SNOW 2 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SPRINGDALE IN WASHINGTON COUNTY  
16.00 INCHES OF SNOW 10 MILES WEST OF TONTITOWN IN BENTON COUNTY  
16.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT DECATUR IN BENTON COUNTY  
16.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT GOSHEN IN WASHINGTON COUNTY  
16.00 INCHES OF SNOW 2 MILES SOUTH OF FAYETTEVILLE IN WASHINGTON COUNTY  
15.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT WESLEY IN MADISON COUNTY  
15.00 INCHES OF SNOW 1 MILES WEST-NORTHWEST OF FAYETTEVILLE IN WASHINGTON COUNTY  
15.00 INCHES OF SNOW 1 MILES EAST OF FAYETTEVILLE IN WASHINGTON COUNTY  
14.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT BENTONVILLE IN BENTON COUNTY  
14.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT BRASHEARS IN MADISON COUNTY  
13.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT BELLA VISTA IN BENTON COUNTY  
13.00 INCHES OF SNOW 3 MILES NORTH OF EUREKA SPRINGS IN CARROLL COUNTY  
12.50 INCHES OF SNOW AT ELKINS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY  
12.00 INCHES OF SNOW 1 MILES SOUTH OF FAYETTEVILLE IN WASHINGTON COUNTY  
12.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT FARMINGTON IN WASHINGTON COUNTY  
12.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT EUREKA SPRINGS IN CARROLL COUNTY  
11.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT MARBLE IN MADISON COUNTY  
10.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT LINCOLN IN WASHINGTON COUNTY  
10.00 INCHES OF SNOW 1 MILES NORTH OF GREEN FOREST IN CARROLL COUNTY  
8.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT CASS IN FRANKLIN COUNTY  
7.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT WINSLOW IN WASHINGTON COUNTY  
7.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT BERRYVILLE IN CARROLL COUNTY  
7.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT BUSCH IN CARROLL COUNTY  
6.00 INCHES OF SNOW 2 MILES EAST OF ODELL IN WASHINGTON COUNTY  
6.00 INCHES OF SNOW 3 MILES WEST-NORTHWEST OF EUREKA SPRINGS IN CARROLL COUNTY  
6.00 INCHES OF SNOW 6 MILES NORTH OF EUREKA SPRINGS IN CARROLL COUNTY  
6.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT OZARK IN FRANKLIN COUNTY  
5.00 INCHES OF SNOW 3 MILES WEST OF ELKINS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY  
5.00 INCHES OF SNOW 5 MILES WEST OF ALPENA IN CARROLL COUNTY  
5.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT GREEN FOREST IN CARROLL COUNTY  
5.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT FORT SMITH IN SEBASTIAN COUNTY  
4.00 INCHES OF SNOW AT MOUNTAINBURG IN CRAWFORD COUNTY  
3.00 INCHES OF SNOW 5 MILES NORTHWEST OF EUREKA SPRINGS IN CARROLL COUNTY