Warmth Returned to the West Over the Weekend - But Will it Stick Around?

The unseasonable warmth has returned to the western U.S. after a brief cooldown. While the warmth may feel good to residents craving summer weather, the rising temperatures will amplify the drought building across this part of the country. Read on for all of the details, as well as when you can expect it to cool off again.

Weekend Warming Trend Will Linger Out West

Although the current warming trend out West will not rival the record-breaking heat wave from March, it will still be warm enough to exacerbate the drought and present an elevated threat of wildfires. The temperatures began to tick up a notch heading into the Easter weekend, and are expected to stay there through the early part of the new work week. Cooler temperatures and the chance of moisture will return to much of the western U.S. later in the week.

A large area of high pressure anchored over the West is responsible for the warmer weather. Record highs are being challenged in some areas of California. For example, temperatures along the coastal areas typically hover in the 60s in early April. Some of this zone will see readings approach the 80s. Places such as San Francisco reached the mid 70s on Easter Sunday, providing ideal weather for egg hunts and other holiday festivities.

It will be even toastier heading farther south and more inland. The Central Valley may approach the 90-degree barrier, challenging records that have stood for years. Fresno is bracing for a high of about 87 degrees on Monday under a mix of sun and clouds.

Not surprisingly, Phoenix is leading the way with the scorching temperatures. The Valley of the Sun could see records fall when the mercury climbs back up into the mid 90s on Wednesday.

Moving into the interior portions of the West, Salt Lake City has been on a steep upward climb throughout the weekend. After seeing highs top out in the 40s on Friday, the largest city in Utah is expecting temperatures to soar into the low 70s by Monday. For context, this is about 10 to 15 degrees above the historical average for the first week in April.

The warmth is also reaching as far north as the Pacific Northwest. It was a beautiful holiday weekend in both Seattle and Portland with sunny skies and highs in the upper 60s and 70s. The region will enjoy one more day of unseasonable temperatures on Monday before the cooler weather returns. Seattle is expecting a high of 70 degrees on Monday before dropping back into the upper 50s on Tuesday.