DETROIT – Summertime in February? It’s truly a weird weather week for the Midwest.
On Tuesday, Feb. 27, the high temperature in the city of Detroit reached a record-setting high of 72 degrees Fahrenheit by 2 p.m. It’s the warmest February temperature ever recorded in the city.
Detroit’s previous record high for February was 70 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
The Motor City wasn’t the only area experiencing summerlike conditions this week, right in the middle of winter. Cities across the Midwest and central U.S. had also seen record heat over the past few days. Even in Chicago, where it’s usually particularly cold this time of year, record-setting highs were recorded on Monday.
It’s an unusual weather week for the region, especially juxtaposed to the blinding snow blowing through the Northwest at the start of the week. That system was expected to blow eastward over the next few days, however, likely putting an end to summery conditions for many.
That’s certainly true for Metro Detroit: A 40-degree drop in temperatures was expected to follow the strangely warm Tuesday in the region. By Wednesday afternoon, the wind chill could make highs could feel like the teens or colder.
From 70s to shivering in just a matter of hours. And to make matters worse, potentially severe storms were expected amid the temperature transition.
The bitter cold wasn’t forecast to last too long, though. Temperatures should reach the 60s again by the weekend.