Seasonal heat records were recorded in Canada and the United States this week. In a number of places the thermometer was already showing summer temperatures.
In the central US, abnormally high temperatures early in the week were followed by a sudden drop in mercury. Temperatures then rose again to above-average levels, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). “A rollercoaster,” is how NWS describes the changing temperatures.
Yesterday was expected to be the warmest day on record in February or during Chicago’s meteorological winter, with highs above 20 degrees, a local weather service said on X. By Wednesday morning, however, temperatures were expected to drop below freezing. “We are about to embark on an intense meteorological merry-go-round, with summer, spring and winter weather in 24 hours.”
Multiple heat records
Several heat records have also been recorded in recent days, including in Saint-Louis in Missouri and in the more northern cities of Minneapolis and Saint-Paul in Minnesota. In the latter city, a record temperature of 18 degrees was measured on Monday. Texas also experienced unusual temperatures: in Dallas it was 33 degrees on Monday, also a record for February 26.
In addition to the US, it is also abnormally warm in several places in Canada. In Montreal it was 15 degrees on Tuesday, making it the warmest February 27 since measurements began.
Last month was already the warmest January on record worldwide, according to the American and European weather agencies. According to the experts, a record for February is once again possible, mainly driven by climate change in combination with the weather phenomenon El Niño.
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