Asheville Christmas temperatures 18 degrees above average

New Yorkers doing some last-minute shopping on Christmas Eve left their winter coats at home Thursday as temperatures soared to record highs. The record-high for Portland, Maine, is 53 degrees in 1957, while Concord, New Hampshire’s record-high for the day was set in 1871 when temperatures climbed to 57 degrees. The average Christmas Eve temperature in Buffalo is 34. The average low is 43 degree, with a record low of 11 degrees set in 1983.

This comes a day after a record breaking temperature of 15C in Toronto.

On Christmas Eve alone, dozens of records were broken due to the heat.

The climate is expected to change once again Sunday as the likelihood for yet another day of record warm returns, with temperatures expected to reach 66 degrees.

Temperatures are expected to be in the mid- to upper 40s through Wednesday, when the thermometer is expected to pass into the 50s.

Tornado weather is typical in the spring, but can happen anytime cold air meets hot air.

The jet stream is to blame (or thank depending upon your opinion) for the unseasonably warm temperatures, according to Mitch Gill, a hydro-meteorological technician for the weather service. The weather is looking fantastic for last minute traveling!

“As much as I love it, it doesn’t feel right wearing shorts as I head out for a run on Christmas Eve in Maryland”, said Michele Potter, the director of parks and recreation in Gaithersburg.

“It’s my favorite part of New York in the wintertime – Manhattan in the snow”, Colin Feeney of Queens told the New York Post.

A flash flood watch is in effect until this evening for protections of the Washington, D.C. area, to include Prince William County, Manassas, and Manassas Park, according to the National Weather Service.

There’s the chance for some wintry weather (yes, I said it) on Monday night into Tuesday morning that we’re keeping a close eye on. Both items would come in handy normally in late December, but not this year, when temperatures were expected to rise into the 70s on Thursday.