Philadelphia experienced a record-breaking high temperature of 82 degrees Fahrenheit on Wednesday, April 1st, according to the National Weather Service. This surpasses the previous record of 81 degrees set in 1978 for the date.

Record-Breaking Warmth

The temperature, which is more typical of a June 12th, was recorded under a strong, bloom-coaxing sun. This marks a significant departure from the colder and snowier winter experienced compared to this year.

West Coast Influence

Meteorologist Alex Staarmann from the National Weather Service Office in Mount Holly explained that the region is experiencing the tail end of a heatwave that recently impacted the Western United States. “The last few weeks it’s been extremely warm across the West, so we’re coming into the remnants of that,” he said, noting a shift in upper-air patterns.

While Denver saw March temperatures averaging over 12 degrees above normal, Philadelphia’s March was also warmer than average. It was the warmest March for the city since last March, which was 5.5 degrees higher than long-term averages.

Shifting Weather Patterns

A cold front was expected to move through the region Wednesday night, bringing showers and potential thunderstorms with up to a half-inch of rain. March saw only 1.9 inches of rainfall, less than half of the normal amount.

Drought Conditions & Ground Saturation

Despite the lack of rain, the ground remains saturated due to the 30 inches of snow accumulated during the winter. Most of the region remains in a state of moderate drought.

Temperatures are forecast to drop by approximately 30 degrees on Thursday afternoon following the passage of the cold front. However, readings are expected to climb back into the low 80s on Friday and Saturday, potentially challenging another record.