Things are heating up in the central U.S. Records as old as 128 years could be smashed as above-average warmth surges as far north as the Dakotas – 20 to 30 degrees above average for late February. To top it all off, fire weather comes with the warmth.

Spring and summer lovers are about to enjoy some welcomed warmth across the central U.S. From Texas to North Dakota and the Upper Midwest, temperatures 20 to 30 degrees above average will help you leave behind the big coats today. Some will want to be in shorts!

A strong low-pressure system churning along the northern tier is siphoning up warm air from the South. The warm front out ahead of the low extends into the Upper Midwest, showing where the warm air is headed.

Highs across the northern Plains and the Upper Midwest will reach the 50s and 60s today, with low 70s possible in southern South Dakota. The further south you go, the warmer it gets. 70s and 80s will be felt across the central Plains to the lower Ohio Valley and the Gulf Coast and Southeast.

Those getting the bulk of the heat are in the southern Plains. High temperatures will be in the mid-to-upper 80s and even low 90s. Abilene, Texas, could tie its 2009 record of 93 today, with Waco possibly reaching past its 1954 record of 90 with a forecast of 91.

The heat doesn’t come without a price, however. The location of this large low-pressure system will bring about significant downsloping of the Rockies. Downsloping of dry air running into a warmer air mass fuels fire weather, and we have red flag warnings stretching from eastern Montana and western South Dakota to the Midwest, as well as along the Front Range down to far western Texas.

In the highest levels of the atmosphere, the southern jet has winds exceeding 120 mph. They’re movement over the mountains enhances the downsloping, allowing for surface gusty winds as high as 55 and 60 mph. Not to be outdone, the humidity levels will be in the teens – very dry.

Tossed matches, cigarettes, and cars parked in dry grass are all prone to sparking fires and these warm, gusty weather conditions will only spread the flames. These red flag warnings are in place to notify you of the dangerous set-up should any wildfires spark.

By Tuesday, the warm air spreads eastward into the Midwest through the South and southern Plains. More record-breaking highs are expected.

Although the warmth is welcome, it does prime the atmosphere for severe storms. Remember the severe weather system we’ve been talking about since last week? It’s finally coming together and as much as a slight risk has been issued for isolated to scattered severe storms.

Places in line to receive the strongest storms include much of the Midwest from Chicago and Detroit to St. Louis, Mo. Learn more about the severe weather threat from Meteorologist James West.