100-degree temperature swing challenge completed in the Plains

As we enter the final moments of (meteorological) winter and spring prepares to begin Saturday, signs of change are all around. With the weather pattern in reload phase, it’s on the quiet side compared to recently, but not it’s not enough so to have nothing to look at.

Weather Watch

Southwest heat. While much of the Lower 48 gets a spring preview, the Southwest is jumping straight to early summer. Highs neared and topped 90 in the deserts Tuesday as daily record highs were set in California and Arizona. Additional warmth records are likely over the next few days.

Out like a lamb. March is known to come in like a lion and go out like a lamb. Perhaps February is practice for what is to come as the month is ending rather zzzzz.

Thunderstorm season ahead. Relatedly, March may be practicing its roar behind the scenes. Severe weather risks are expected to increase in the South and along the Gulf Coast next week. The Storm Prediction Center is monitoring the situation.

Lightning links

Three tropical cyclones are spinning in a row in the South Pacific.

‘Planetary parade’ in sky through next several nights.

One more time Wednesday

I’m over here still thinking about last week’s Arctic outbreak in the Lower 48 and the subsequent flip to springlike conditions across much of the focus region of the cold.

In what should be the final installment of highlighting related events, a brief look at temperature swings from start to finish. Tuesday pushed a number of locations near or past 100 degrees for temperature change in less than a week.

Leaders of the swingin’ temperature pack include:

• Valentine, Nebraska at 104 degrees.

• Harrison and Broken Bow, Nebraska at 102 degrees.

• Brady, Nebraska at 101 degrees.

• Edgemont, South Dakota plus North Platte and McCook, Nebraska at 100 degrees.

As you might guess per that list (or after looking at the map above), the zone of largest change, with many locations topping 90 degrees from low to high, was across the northern Plains and especially Nebraska to South Dakota.

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Weekday morning newsletter by a journalist/forecaster that connects weather and climate change dots while occasionally stirring the pot.

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