Across Southern New England, people ventured outside without jackets and scarves Wednesday, as temperatures climbed to record-breaking highs in some places.
According to the National Weather Service, Providence broke the record for February 21st around 2 p.m., when the mercury hit 64 degrees.
But National Weather Service meteorologist Nicole Belk said the balmy weather was still a ways away from breaking the monthly record.
“The all-time February high for any day of the month of February for Providence is 72 degrees, and that was set on February 24th in 1985,’ said Belk. “So they didn’t break that one.”
On Block Island, spring still felt like a faraway dream, with temperatures remaining in the 40s. According to Belk, clouds were to blame for vast differences in temperature around the region.
“Much of southern New England has full sunshine,” said Belk. “However, just to the south of Providence, down to the coast and south coastal Massachusetts and the Cape, there’s actually a low cloud deck that’s keeping the temperatures noticeably lower.”
In Connecticut, Hartford broke its all-time February record at 74 degrees. The mercury climbed close to 80 degrees in Fitchburg, Massachusetts.
But by Thursday it was back to winter, with forecasters calling for rain and sleet. Temperatures were expected to sink back into the 30s and 40s before the weekend.
