Early February Warmup Will Come with the Risk of Storms

A classic February thaw is in store for much of the country week as milder air filtering in from the Pacific Ocean becomes the driving weather pattern. However, a clash of the warmer air and colder temperatures still in place in some areas could also set the stage for rain, ice, and the threat of severe storms. Here is what you need to know about the weather forecast for the first week of February.

Brief Warmup on the Way for a Wide Swath of the Central and Eastern U.S.

The mercury could reach record levels for over a dozen states next week thanks to an infusion of Pacific air moving from west to east. This air will feel even warmer on the heels of a particularly cold January for a large swath of the U.S. Temperatures for January will end up at about 3 to 6 degrees below the norm for a zone from the Gulf Coast and up into the Great Lakes.

But it was not just the cold temperatures grabbing the weather headlines throughout the month of January. A major snow event unfolded across the Gulf Coast, bringing record-breaking snow accumulation to a region not accustomed to seeing any wintry precipitation. The ice and snow are in the rearview mirror for the southern U.S.

The warmer temperatures will come at the hands of a shift of the jet stream to a more west-to-east direction across the nation. This shift will keep the coldest air relegated to the far northern reaches of the U.S.

You can expect the milder air to begin to seep in across the nation's heartland just in time for Groundhog Day on Sunday. The forecast is calling for widespread highs reaching the upper 50s and 60s for most of the Midwest. Some communities in the south-central U.S. may even see readings climb into the 70s during the peak afternoon heating hours on Sunday afternoon.

Temperatures will hit levels roughly 15 to 20 degrees over the norm for early February in a zone stretching from Oklahoma City and into St. Louis and Nashville. For example, Nashville is anticipating a high of about 71 degrees on Monday thanks to an abundance of sunshine. After a bit of a dip on Tuesday, the mercury will shoot back up into the mid 70s on Wednesday, albeit with the chance of severe weather also in the cards at this time.

It will also be unseasonably warm in the Great Lakes region. After highs top out in the upper 30s on Sunday, Detroit is going to enjoy a high of about 48 degrees on Tuesday.

This mass of warm air will reach the eastern U.S. by Monday. As whole, widespread highs will hover in the 40s, 50s, and 60s throughout the Northwest and the mid-Atlantic. For example, Pittsburgh is forecast to see the temperatures inch up into the upper 50s on Monday, likely turning out to be the warmest day of the week.

Chances of Daily Records Falling