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Western US will most likely see record-setting warm temperatures

Mar 24th 2015 10:55AM
By Linda Lam

Familiar words will return to the forecast in the West later this week: record warm temperatures. So far this year, above-average temperatures have dominated weather conditions in the western United States and this trend appears very likely to continue.

(MORE: Warm Winter in the West)

A ridge of high pressure will bring record warm temperatures to much of the West later this week, while a dip in the jet stream will allow below-average temperatures to return to the Northeast, as well as parts of the Midwest and South. This is the pattern that has been in place for most of this year so far, with the jet stream far to the north over western North America and then the jet stream takes a dip in the East allowing cold air to plunge into areas east of the Mississippi River.

(MORE: Temperature Roller Coaster for the East)

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Record Warm Temperatures to End the Week
The warmth expands out of the Desert Southwest into the Pacific Northwest and Rockies Thursday into Friday as the ridge of high pressure slides into the West. Above-average temperatures will then spread across the West and into parts of the Plains this weekend.
Here's a look at the potential for record-breaking temperatures day-by-day:

Thursday: High temperatures will be 10 to 20 degrees above average from southern Arizona through Nevada, California and into Oregon and Washington.

Record highs are possible in (current record high is in parentheses): Portland, Oregon (73),Fresno, California (87) and Reno, Nevada (77).

Friday: Above-average temperatures expand to envelop the entire Rockies from Montana to New Mexico, while temperatures will remain warm through the Southwest and along the West Coast. Highs will reach the 70s for much of the northern tier, with 80s and 90s in parts of California, Nevada and Arizona.

Record highs are possible in San Diego (82), Downtown Los Angeles (91), and Seattle (71).

Saturday: Mild conditions will start the day in the West, with low temperatures up to 30 degrees above average. Highs will once again soar well above average, except along the immediate West Coast.

Record highs are likely once again including in Las Vegas (89), Sacramento, California (81),Boise, Idaho (76) and Flagstaff, Arizona (68).

Sunday: Temperatures will once again be 10 to 20 degrees above average throughout much of the West. That warmth will spread farther east in the Plains and Upper Midwest.

Record highs are possible in Phoenix (95), Albuquerque (81) and Salt Lake City (75).

(MAPS: 10-day Forecast)

Above-average temperatures will likely persist in the West heading into at least the first week of April. The Climate Prediction Center has given most of the West a greater than 70 percent chance of seeing above-average temperatures in their 6 to 10 day outlook.

Warmest March So Far
Many cities are currently experiencing their warmest March on record and this comes after many locations in the West experienced their warmest winter on record.

(MORE: Warmest Winter for These Cities)

As of March 21 the following cities have seen their warmest March on record (their average temperature, the average between the low and high temperature, for the month of March is in parentheses): Los Angeles Downtown (67.7), San Diego (66.3), Santa Barbara, California (63.6), Long Beach, California (66.6), Boise, Idaho (48.8), Portland, Oregon (51.7), Wenatchee, Washington (49.4) and Yakima, Washington (48.8).

Salinas California is also experiencing their warmest March on record, with an average temperature of 61.53 degrees. Salinas has also seen the warmest start to the year with an average temperature of 59.27 degrees from January 1 to March 21 (80 days), which is more than 2 degrees higher than the previous warmest January 1 through March 21 period (56.95) which was in 2014.

In addition, Salinas also recorded their warmest February, January and December this past winter and has had a top-10 warmest month since July.

Downtown Los Angeles has also tied the record for most 80 degree days year-to-date. Through March 22, Los Angeles has reported 21 days with high temperatures at or above 80 degrees.

The forecast through the end of March calls for the above-average temperature trend to continue, so many more cities will likely be added to the list of record warmest March.

(MORE: Earth's Warmest Winter on Record)

MORE ON WEATHER.COM: Warmest Winter on Record 2014-15 (Photos)

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