As Detroiters enjoyed an unseasonably warm start to March, temperature records tumbled in the Motor City. The Detroit Free Press reported that Monday's high hit a sizzling 74 degrees, shattering the previous record of 69 degrees set back in 1983. This heat wave is more befitting of spring than the tail end of a Michigan winter, particularly when the average high for March 4 is a cool 41 degrees.
Not to be outdone, Flint felt the heat as highs reached 72 degrees, breaking the previous record of 63 degrees set in the same year, whilst Saginaw basked in a balmy 70 degrees, topping its prior record of 56 degrees from 2000, according to the National Weather Service as reported by the Detroit Free Press. Residents welcomed the warm weather that has followed an exceptionally mild winter with open arms.
But, as CBS Detroit points out, "temperatures will not reach near 70 degrees in the next seven days," hinting at a cool down. Citing a forecast of above-normal temperatures for the rest of the week, CBS News Detroit also noted that the city is on track for one of the warmest winters recorded since the 1800s. With the official start of spring just weeks away, the warmth has brought an early taste of the season, despite calendar indications to the contrary.
Meanwhile, Tuesday's conditions took a damp turn, with a cold front ushering in rainfall that began in the morning, and wet weather expected to persist through the afternoon. Staring at the mid to high 50s, temperatures took a plunge, according to FOX 2 Detroit, which forecasted that highs would only reach the low 60s, a stark contrast from the day before.
Detroit's foray into spring-like warmth seems to be a brief interlude, with the week's remainder looking decidedly more season-appropriate. The unseasonable temperatures may have broken records and lifted spirits, but as they begin to subside, the city gears up for more familiar March weather. With the spring equinox on the horizon, Detroiters are left to ponder the unpredictable whims of Mother Nature.
