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Posted on Mon, Mar 19, 2012 : 2:47 p.m.

Ann Arbor breaks string of weather records; 80s expected by Tuesday

By Cindy Heflin

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Walkers make their way past a colorful train car covered with graffiti as they walk along the Huron River on Monday morning. The weather should be great all week for walks along the river or just about anywhere else.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Ann Arbor is racking up a string of record-high days, and it looks like several more records will fall this week.

We’ve already had three record-high days this month, on the 14th, 16th and 17th. With a high of 79 expected Monday afternoon, we’re likely to set another record. The previous high for March 19 is 77 set in 1921.

Tuesday looks to be another record-breaker with a high of 82 expected, about 30 degrees above the normal high for this time of year. The previous record for March 20 was 75 degrees set in 1921. That would also break the record for earliest day to record a high temperature of 80 or higher. That was set on March 22, 1938, with a high of 81.

We could even have three record-breaking days in a row if we reach the expected high of 83 on Wednesday. The record for that day is 74.

And that’s not all. Ann Arbor is also likely to break the record for consecutive days above 70 degrees in March. The current record stands at six, set in 1998, when temperatures were above 70 degrees from March 26 to 31. The temperature in Ann Arbor stood at 71 at 1:30 p.m. Monday, tying that record. Another 70-degree-plus day on Tuesday would break it.

The Detroit area was expected to tie the record Monday for most consecutive days in March above 60 degrees. Ann Arbor is also approaching that record. It was set in 1910, when the area had 10 days in a row of days above 60. Monday's 71 degrees makes it the ninth consecutive day with temperatures above 60 degrees.

And while warm temperatures can lead to severe thunderstorms, such as those that spawned the tornado that destroyed homes and uprooted trees in the Dexter area last Thursday, no severe weather is in the immediate forecast.

Meteorologists say the warmer-than-normal conditions are likely to continue for some time. A ridge of high pressure is firmly parked to the east, pulling up warm air from the south.

“Just looking at things it doesn’t really look like there’s going to be any chance for any snap back to reality even through the end of the month,” said Eric Leister, a meteorologist with AccuWeather.com. A bit of a cool down is expected this weekend, with daytime highs in the 50s, but by Tuesday of next week, temperatures could be back in the 70s, Leister said.

All this abnormality has Monica Hicks of Ann Arbor a bit worried. The warm weather is pleasant, she said, but the self-described tree hugger worries about the impact on the environment.

“It’s just kind of got me wondering what’s going on with the climate,” she said, sitting outside The Arena on Washington Street Monday, enjoying the first outdoor lunch of the year with co-worker Chelsea Dulin.

Dulin, of Ypsilanti, expressed no such reservations. “I’m super excited,” she said. “I wish I wasn’t working. If I wasn’t working I’d be lying out in my back yard. I think it’s going to be a hot summer.”

For weather updates and forecasts any time, check AnnArbor.com's weather page.

Contact Cindy Heflin at cindyheflin@annarbor.com or 734-623-2572 or follow her on Twitter.

Comments

Tru2Blu76

Tue, Mar 20, 2012 : 2:03 a.m.

15 minutes riding a bicycle today showed me blooming violets, daffodils and forsythia. All are blooming weeks early. We're getting just over 12 hours between sun rise and sun set, but the warmer than normal winter combined with recent temps which are 30 degrees above normal are what caused this early blooming. Today for the first time, I saw tree buds breaking open, the husks littered the ground. I checked: Ann Arbor has had a string of days which are warmer than San Diego! (And indeed, California & much of the West is having abnormally low temps.) Most people are impressed when a 100 year old record is broken: there's some importance to that but the reality is that, for the past 25 years, there've been a lot of those broken and then the new records are broken again and again. Those early-flowering plants today: now face two risks as a result - a freezing period and lack of means by which to pollinate their blossoms because insects & bird species are not "arriving in time" to do the job. When those pollinators do arrive: they will probably face reduced food sources. Of course: the cold in California will affect OUR food supply too. What if we have another stretch of 30 degrees above normal in mid-July? We'll figuratively and literally throw more coal on the fire: to produce electricity to power air conditioners. First Nature takes the physically weak, then she takes the unwary and uninformed.

julieswhimsies

Mon, Mar 19, 2012 : 10:48 p.m.

I'm dazed and confused here. Do we call this summer? Winter didn't really happen...just a very long November. My flowers thought it was Spring several months ago. I mean. I'm not complaining....

julieswhimsies

Tue, Mar 20, 2012 : 10:38 p.m.

Yes, it does. This is the mildest winter in Michigan that I have ever experienced. When we lived in Indiana, nobody planted anything until May 1. This kind of hot weather makes me want to start my garden...but...

jns131

Tue, Mar 20, 2012 : 3:07 p.m.

I believe today is the first day of spring. But yes, it certainly does feel like summer does it not?

revras

Mon, Mar 19, 2012 : 9:09 p.m.

Just imagine the people who would be feeding themselves and the local economy if Main St was made into a pedestrian mall during the " warm" months.

Ed B

Mon, Mar 19, 2012 : 8:38 p.m.

The article fails to mention that Europe is experiencing record cold temperatures, particularly in the central nations. Many link the extremes between North America and Europe to sunspot activity, or more specifically to the lack of it. The sun's "grand minima" is expected to be reached in the next few years and then the trends should be reversed. Let's enjoy it on this side of the earth and not try to use it for social change. In the meantime, Google Extreme Weather: Record-breaking Cold Winter of 2009/10 in the Northern Hemisphere.

RDanzer

Tue, Mar 20, 2012 : 3:28 a.m.

OK, so as long as we are being all serious here. The last time there was a big run of hot weather like this was 1945: http://www.americanwx.com/bb/index.php/topic/33221-march-1945-warmest-march-ever-recorded/ of course, Battle of the Buldge and all that, it was record cold in Europe: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_March_(1945) January and February 1945 were among the coldest winter months of the 20th century in Europe, with blizzards and temperatures as low as –25 °C (–13 °F), and even until the middle of March, temperatures were well below 0 °C (32 °F). Most of the POWs were ill-prepared for the evacuation, having suffered years of poor rations and wearing clothing ill-suited to the appalling winter conditions. So, yes, time to take a deep breath, but don't exhale the CO2

southyoop

Mon, Mar 19, 2012 : 10:20 p.m.

Great comment, Ed. All the fanatics need to calm down.

David Jenkins

Mon, Mar 19, 2012 : 8:11 p.m.

It would be really nice if someone would contact DTE It seems that they are not aware of the weather and that we had a mild winter also.

whale11

Mon, Mar 19, 2012 : 7:31 p.m.

The trees are budding. If fruit trees bloom and then we get a freeze, say goodbye to local fruit.

jns131

Mon, Mar 19, 2012 : 9:02 p.m.

I've been reading that if we get a good frost? This could damage and even kill the fruit trees. But I hate to say it, I think we are heading for even higher temps by June. This is not normal and I truly believe this is going to be the hottest on record for the summer.

EyeHeartA2

Mon, Mar 19, 2012 : 7:31 p.m.

"All this abnormality has Monica Hicks of Ann Arbor a bit worried. The warm weather is pleasant, she said, but the self-described tree hugger worries about the impact on the environment. "It's just kind of got me wondering what's going on with the climate," she said" 'ole Monica needs to pay attention. Every time it is colder than normal, we are reminded that climate and weather are not the same thing.....or does that door only swing one way?

jns131

Mon, Mar 19, 2012 : 9:04 p.m.

I saw the movie 11th hour and it really does knock some sense into you when it comes to global warming. I am still convinced we have done more harm then good with our planet.

Drew Lathin

Mon, Mar 19, 2012 : 7:05 p.m.

82 degrees is not 20 degrees above the normal high. Normal high today at Detroit Metro is 47. 82 minus 47 is 35.

JGS

Mon, Mar 19, 2012 : 7:21 p.m.

"Tuesday looks to be another record-breaker with a high of 82 expected, about 20 degrees above the normal high for this time of year." I read this as 82 is the high on Tuesday. That will be 20 degrees higher than "normal" which makes me think 82 minus 20 = 62. 62 is not the "normal" high for March 20. Per Weather Underground (http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KARB/2012/3/20/DailyHistory.html?req_city=NA&req_state=NA&req_statename=NA) the "normal" high is 43. Maybe A2.com meant to say it will break the all-time high of 64 by 20 degrees? (if it gets to 84 on Tuesday).

treetowncartel

Mon, Mar 19, 2012 : 7:02 p.m.

There is some quality tagging the posters were talking about. One other thing, this part of the article might need a rewrite. Tuesday is the 20th. and Wednesday is the 21st. "Tuesday looks to be another record-breaker with a high of 82 expected, about 20 degrees above the normal high for this time of year. The previous record for March 21 was 74 degrees set in 1918. We could even have three record-breaking days in a row if we reach the expected high of 83 on Wednesday. The record for that day is 81."

Cindy Heflin

Mon, Mar 19, 2012 : 7:30 p.m.

Yes, March 20th is correct. That's been fixed. Thank you.