Soaring temperatures could shatter over 300 records to close out February

 Hundreds of temperature records – record highs and record-warm lows – are expected to fall by midweek across the Plains and Midwest. More than 246 million Americans will experience above-average temperatures on Tuesday.

An extraordinary record-breaking February heat event has left millions of people wondering what month it is.

Monday lived up to the hype with more than 73 daily record temperatures set or tied and at least 5 monthly records set. Cities that recorded the hottest February day included Omaha (80 degrees), Des Moines (78 degrees), Minneapolis (65 degrees) and Abilene, Texas (94 degrees).

Fargo, North Dakota (61 degrees) saw its first 60-degree day in February in 66 years.

After reaching a record-breaking 80 degrees on Monday, St. Louis is forecast to see high temperatures in the lower 80s again on Tuesday. If the temperature reaches 85, it will be an all-time record for St. Louis in February. However, the minimum temperature is expected to drop to around 30 degrees by Wednesday morning.

Dallas (94 degrees) had the third hottest February day on record and the seventh hottest early 90 degree day in Texas. At Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas, the thermometer surprisingly reached 100 degrees. Record heat, high winds, and very low relative humidity caused numerous wildfires to erupt and rapidly spread across Colorado, Nebraska, Texas, and Mississippi.

Tuesday morning was warm, with more than 240 million Americans experiencing above average daytime temperatures.

Records of lowest temperatures are predicted to be broken on February 27 at more than 100 places in more than 20 states. Low temperatures will be so warm that they will be hotter than the average high temperatures for this time of year.

Another 16 states could see record-high temperatures Tuesday as temperatures again rise 20 to 40 degrees above average ahead of a powerful cold wave. Detroit was one of them, with a 1 p.m. The temperature reached 70 degrees, equaling its all-time record high temperatures set on February 11, 1999 and February 24, 2017.

Temperatures in the 70s could reach as far north as Wisconsin, where Madison has a good chance of seeing its hottest February temperature on record.

Temperatures will reach 80 degrees in Missouri and Illinois, and some Texas thermometers will reach 90 again. Although not as hot and windy as Monday, there will still be conditions that will be favorable for wildfire spread across Texas on Tuesday.

The extension of summer will ensure that most northern cities from Minnesota to Maine will record top 10 warmest meteorological winters on record.

The temperature is fluctuating

By the end of the week, cooler temperatures will return as a cold wave brings temperatures down as storms sweep across the country. This front will bring wild changes in temperatures for millions of people.

Cross-country storm could bring blizzard conditions to western mountains, severe weather mid-week

"Even though this summer is warming up quickly, and we expect records by Tuesday and Wednesday, as the storm moves through we get a sharp reminder that, yes, it's still winter," the Fox meteorologist said. And we still need coats." Jane Minar said.

The Fox Forecast Center said that during the second half of the week, temperatures will fluctuate from 20-30 degrees above average to 10-20 degrees below. This change in temperature will also come with strong winds. It looks like temperatures could drop below zero in parts of the northern tier by Wednesday.

The country will then be divided by unseasonable heat in the south and cold temperatures in the north. However, the FOX Forecast Center is tracking long-range forecasts that will allow that heat to return across the country in the first full week of March.