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US Faces Warmest January on Record: Heat Ridge Dominates
14 Jan
Summary
- Seattle experienced a 51-degree low temperature, unusual for January.
- Much of the U.S. is experiencing temperatures up to 30 degrees above normal.
- A ridge of high pressure is causing unseasonably mild weather across the nation.
Millions across the United States awoke to unseasonably warm January temperatures, with the Pacific Northwest notably experiencing summer-like conditions. Seattle recorded a low of 51 degrees Fahrenheit, a stark contrast to its typical January temperatures which usually hover in the 30s. This mild weather is part of a broader national pattern influenced by a significant ridge of high pressure.
The warmth is most pronounced in the Heartland, where some locations are experiencing temperatures as much as 30 degrees Fahrenheit above average for this time of year. While the Pacific Northwest faces unusual warmth, other regions are also affected, with the Great Lakes region under a winter weather advisory and fog impacting the West Coast.
Forecasters predict that these elevated temperatures will persist for a few more days before gradually returning to seasonal norms by the end of the week. There is a possibility that Seattle could break records for its highest overnight low temperatures on Tuesday. The National Weather Service anticipates above-average temperatures for Washington state and other western regions between January 18 and January 22.
