Current:Home > FinanceWhy so much of the US is unseasonably hot -ProfitQuest Academy
Why so much of the US is unseasonably hot
View
Date:2025-04-12 23:03:59
A powerful winter storm was dumping deep snow in parts of the West on Monday and much of the central U.S. was unseasonably warm: People played golf in Wisconsin and comfortably walked their dogs in Iowa, where some bulbs were starting to flower. And high winds hiked fire risks in several states.
Why was it happening?
Three things explained the weird weather in much of the U.S.
THE JET STREAM
This band of strong winds keeps warm air, which blows up from the south, trapped below cold air that comes down from the north. The jet stream constantly shifts. Recently, it’s been sitting far north enough to mean that warm air has been blasting the normally frigid Upper Midwest.
“The orientation of it right now is not very winter-like,” said Andrew Orrison, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in College Park, Maryland.
GLOBAL WARMING
In all weather science, it’s virtually impossible to directly attribute any individual phenomenon to a specific cause. How global warming affects the position of the jet stream is a case in point.
But climate change, caused by human activities that release plant-warming gasses like carbon dioxide, is causing global temperatures to be warmer than normal. In fact, January 2024 broke the record for the warmest first month of the year, which was previously set in 2020, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service of the European Space Agency. January was 2.74 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than pre-industrial levels.
EL NIÑO
Also at play is a weather pattern called El Niño, ,which can cause the jet stream to sit more northward than usual.
The East Coast will see warmer weather arrive by mid-week, with cities like Washington and New York expecting temperatures well above normal.
Southern regions are also experiencing unusually warm weather, and could see temperatures in the ‘80s and ’90s. Dallas-Fort Worth is likely to be at least in the low ‘90s, which would break a daily record.
___
The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
veryGood! (41142)
Related
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- AP PHOTOS: In 2023, calamities of war and disaster were unleashed again on an unsettled Middle East
- Azerbaijan to hold snap presidential election on February 7, shortly before Russia’s vote
- Russian schoolgirl shoots several classmates, leaving 1 dead, before killing herself
- How to watch new prequel series 'Dexter: Original Sin': Premiere date, cast, streaming
- AP PHOTOS: In 2023, calamities of war and disaster were unleashed again on an unsettled Middle East
- Jamie Dimon on the cryptocurrency industry: I'd close it down
- Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll responds to Jamal Adams mocking reporter's wife
- Meet first time Grammy nominee Charley Crockett
- Westchester County Executive George Latimer announces campaign against Congressman Jamaal Bowman
Ranking
- Taylor Swift Eras Archive site launches on singer's 35th birthday. What is it?
- The New York Yankees' projected lineup after blockbuster Juan Soto trade
- Las Vegas shooter dead after killing 3 in campus assault on two buildings: Updates
- A woman hurled food at a Chipotle worker. A judge sentenced the attacker to work in a fast-food restaurant
- Meet first time Grammy nominee Charley Crockett
- Adele Hilariously Reveals Why She's Thriving as Classroom Mom
- A nurse’s fatal last visit to patient’s home renews calls for better safety measures
- Julia Roberts Shares Sweet Update on Family Life With Her and Danny Moder’s 3 Kids
Recommendation
Federal court filings allege official committed perjury in lawsuit tied to Louisiana grain terminal
Trevor Lawrence says he feels 'better than he would've thought' after ankle injury
UNLV shooting suspect dead after 3 killed on campus, Las Vegas police say
From SZA to the Stone of Scone, the words that help tell the story of 2023 were often mispronounced
Angelina Jolie nearly fainted making Maria Callas movie: 'My body wasn’t strong enough'
What does 'delulu' mean? Whether on Tiktok or text, here's how to use the slang term.
Tom Suozzi appears to be Democrats' choice in special election for George Santos' congressional seat
Nearly $5 billion in additional student loan forgiveness approved by Biden administration
Like
- New Mexico governor seeks funding to recycle fracking water, expand preschool, treat mental health
- Three North Carolina Marines were found dead in a car with unconnected exhaust pipes, autopsies show
- A pregnant Texas woman is asking a court to let her have an abortion under exceptions to state’s ban