How are the temperatures warming in the spring? This week is a prime example of extreme and prolonged heat for the South through the East. Lots of records will be broken!

The winds are shifting and this change in winds ramps up the temperatures across Florida and much of the Southeast. This change in winds is in response to that major low-pressure system causing severe weather across the Plains and on Tuesday bringing another round of severe weather to the Mississippi Valley and Lower Ohio Valley.

Several records will be broken starting Tuesday and continuing through the weekend. The peak of the extreme heat will happen on Wednesday and Thursday mornings with very warm low temperatures near or breaking records. Jacksonville and Sanford, Fla., will hit 93 degrees on Tuesday afternoon. But on Wednesday morning the record warm lows will be spread abundantly between Louisiana through the Southeast and the mid-Atlantic, including several locations along the Appalachian Mountains. Lows will range between the upper-60s to the mid-70s.

The southwest winds swinging across Florida will push the temperatures across the eastern half of Florida through Georgia and the Carolinas to the upper 80s to the mid-90s, the higher range over eastern Florida. Central Florida will be coming very close to record, or breaking records, on Wednesday and Thursday, many records were established in 2009. From Lakeland through Orlando temperatures are forecast to reach the upper 90s, but with the humidity, these temperatures could feel as if they were around 105F.

The interesting fact is that spring is warming at a fast pace across much of the U.S. Not only have temperatures warmed between 2 and 4 degrees warmer in the Spring (and more than 5 degrees across the Southwest) but there are a much higher number of days with above average temperatures in the spring for most cities. Orlando has recorded more than 14 days with above-average temperatures since 1970 in the spring.

As summer quickly approaches, and the above-average temperature months stuck up, make sure to follow safety guidelines to stay safe when hot temperatures are happening in your city. The heat not only affects us, but also our pockets, activities, and overall health. Keep a close eye on those more vulnerable to extreme heat like the kids, elderly, and those with health problems.