Last week, Borderland residents stepped outside wearing T-shirts and sandals instead of the typical mid-November attire of bulky coats and warm boots.
And even though local retail stores are flooded with Christmas decor for the fast-approaching holiday season, temperatures Tuesday and Wednesday could have fooled people into thinking it was another time of year.
Both days captured a new record high for International Falls. Tuesday’s high of 64 degrees soared past 1969’s record high of 56. Wednesday’s high also peaked at 64 degrees to top 1954’s record of 60.
“We definitely saw temperatures above normal for this time of year,” said Steve Gohde, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Duluth.
Above normal is right. Early week temperatures were 21 degrees above average for this time of year.
The cause for the 60 degree weather can be attributed to a western pattern generating a ridge of warm air flow from the south, said Gohde.
Typically, the highs for this time of year are around 36 degrees and the low is less than or around 20 degrees.
“There are still piles of snow in some Duluth parking lots from the late October snow storm and now, in November, we’re seeing this wonderful weather,” Gohde explained.
However, he warned not to get too comfortable. “We may have been basking in the sun for the last week, but that is all about to change.”
He explained that this time of year, there are several types of systems circulating that allow for southern and northern latitudes to “shake hands” or change temperatures very quickly, which is exactly what is about to happen, he said.
“We will be returning to more normal November temps right away into the weekend,” he said. “In fact, we might want to prepare for a cooler than average second half of the month.”
Continental Canadian air began moving into the area Thursday, knocking the warm flow off track.
The high for Sunday is forecast at around 35 degrees. Gohde said the cold air and possible snow is “right around the corner.”
It might begin to look a lot like Christmas after all.
For a complete forecast, visit http://www.crh.noaa.gov/dlh.
