Record Warmth In Wall: Is Spring Here For Good?

By KARA SEYMOUR (Patch Staff)

With record warmth predicted Wednesday throughout the region, you may be wondering: Is this going to last?

The answer, according to forecasters, is yes. It may not be continue to be quite as warm, but the general consensus is that we've rounded the corner from winter.

"I believe that winter itself, the worst of winter, is over," AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Forecast Meteorologist Paul Pastelok said. "It is not uncommon for snow in spring in the Northeast, but we have turned the corner to spring."

The record high temperature in the Monmouth County area on March 9 is 73 degrees. The National Weather Service is predicting a high near 76 degrees today.

The NWS is warning of an elevated risk of fires today, however.

"Relative humidity values will drop to or just below 30 percent while southwest wind gusts of 15 to 20 mph will develop this afternoon, the NWS said in a special weather statement. "The combination of low relative humidity, gusty winds and dry fuels will produce an elevated risk for the spread of fires this afternoon across interior New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania."

Here is the local forecast:

Today

Sunny, with a high near 76. Southwest wind 7 to 9 mph.

Tonight

Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. Southwest wind 6 to 9 mph.

Thursday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. Southwest wind 5 to 11 mph.

Thursday NightA chance of showers after 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. Southwest wind 8 to 11 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. North wind 7 to 10 mph becoming east in the afternoon.

Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 39.

Saturday Partly sunny, with a high near 57.

Saturday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44.

Sunday A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.