Name: Record warmth across West to spread East
Uploaded: 2025-12-20T17:14:52.699Z
Duration: 1 min 23 s
Description: Record warmth is possible across the Southwest and Southern Plains over the weekend as temperatures are running 10-30 degrees above average. Houston and Phoenix could see highs in the 70s and 80s. This warm air will spread to parts of the east over Christmas week. Atlanta could see multiple days above 70 degrees.

Record warmth is possible across the Southwest and Southern Plains over the weekend as temperatures are running 10-30 degrees above average. Houston and Phoenix could see highs in the 70s and 80s. This warm air will spread to parts of the east over Christmas week. Atlanta could see multiple days above 70 degrees.

Temperatures across the western United States are forecast to be 20 to 30 degrees above average for late December, with several cities such as Phoenix, Denver, and Salt Lake City expected to break longstanding records. The warm conditions are attributed to a ridge of high pressure pushing the jet stream north, allowing warmer air to dominate the region.

By midweek, more than 100 million Americans are expected to experience daytime highs above 70 degrees as the warmth spreads eastward. Cities including Casper, Wyoming and Valentine, Nebraska are also likely to see record temperatures, with the unseasonable warmth continuing into Christmas Day.

Record warmth across West to spread East

Check out Omaha, Kansas City nearly 30 degrees warmer compared to this moment yesterday. Minneapolis also quite warmer than yesterday. So already we've got that southerly flow helping us out in the temperature department. You can see that zonal flow with the jet stream separating the cooler air off to the north but the warmer air to the south. But when we get a ridge of high pressure kind of nudges that jet stream a little bit more toward the north and that allows for a warm-up to take place as we head towards Monday and that means a lot of us are not just going to be above average but how about a lot above average 20 to 30 degrees above where we should be for the end of December. So we could be in record-breaking territory when you get a range like that. Phoenix for example 82 degrees is where we're going on Monday. That's enough to beat a very old long-standing record 79 that was set way back in 1917. Denver the mild weather continues here on Monday with 72 that should be a new record easily. Lubbock, Texas looking to break a record that goes back to 1969. Salt Lake City 59 beating a record by two degrees. Look at the population these are the highs above 70 degrees Tuesday and especially into Wednesday we really jump up 101 million Americans above 70 degrees not just above average but above 70 degrees. Here's a look at where we could see some records across the west including Casper, Wyoming, Valentine, Nebraska 64 and that warmth will be spreading out as we head towards Thursday which is Christmas day.

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