Records Fall As Warm Weather Gives Jersey A June Feel

We are only about three days into the Spring of 2012, and there has been temperatures climbing toward levels normally seen in the middle of June here in New Jersey.

The high temperature here in Northwestern Middlesex County was just under 77 degrees (76.7 degrees).  The mercury also made a run at the all time record for this date set back in 1938.  Back then, New York reached 77 degrees while  Newark topped out at 78 degrees.  On Thursday, the high in NYC was 78 in Central Park while it was 79 in Newark.  Both were records.  Caldwell Airport was at 77 degrees.

In other locations around the region, the mercury topped out at 71 degrees at Philadelphia International Airport while it was the coolest near the water at Wildwood with 70 degrees.  Both Atlantic City and Somerville reached highs of 76 degrees.  Right now, there is a summer like pattern over the Eastern United States.  There is a ridge of high pressure sitting offshore, and generating a southwesterly wind flow around it that is pulling up warmer and more humid air.

The high temperature in South Plainfield was not the highest over the past 28 days.  The maximum high temperature so far in March reached 77.1 degrees on the 19th, and that also threatened a record for that date.  The forecast for Friday is calling for a high of 76 degrees, which also threatens a record for the date set back in 1923.  Dense fog and clouds kept temperatures down during the morning and early afternoon.  However, the sun re-emerged at about lunch time, and the mercury took off after that.

Temperatures have been quite warm so far this March.  The average temperature so far in March 2012 has been just under 50 degrees.  After a mild and uneventful winter in terms of storms, things have been downright balmy here in the Garden State.  The average temperature so far this week alone has been 58.5 degrees.    The high temperature on Tuesday was 73 degrees.  To put in perspective how warm things have been this year, the high temperature during the entire month of April 2011 was only 68 degrees.  So far in 2012, the average temperature is 40.5 degrees.

In response to the record warmth around the Garden State as well as other parts of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, flowers and trees have begun to bloom.  Cherry blossoms have begun to develop here in Northwestern Middlesex County, and there is already quite an array of spring colors.  It looked at felt like late April or early May.  I went outside during the afternoon to shoot some video and take pictures of the spring colors, and will be posting them online soon.

The summer time pattern is expected to break down over the next 48 to 72 hours.  After the mercury climbs into the mid to upper 70s on Friday, cooler and more seasonable air will be moving in on Saturday and Sunday.  Along with the return to more normal temperatures for this time of year, there will also be a chance of rain Saturday night into Sunday as a low pressure system responsible for relentless rainfall over the Great Plains, and some severe weather in Alabama and Mississippi, is forecast to move eastward.