Another record high is possible

YOUNGSTOWN — The quirky weather this winter could leave the Mahoning Valley approaching a record high today.

The National Weather Service is predicting a high today in the upper 50s. The record high for a Feb. 5 in the Valley was 55 degrees in 1986.

But that prediction is probably a bit high because it will almost certainly rain, which will drive down the temperature, said Walter Fitzgerald, a weather service meteorologist. The likely high for today should be in the low 50s, he said.

“A record high is possible, but it’s going to be a struggle,” Fitzgerald said.

Regardless, it’s going to be unseasonably warm today. The average temperature for Feb. 5 is 26 degrees.

The Valley recorded the warmest Jan. 7, 63 degrees, and Jan. 8, 66 degrees, last month.

It will still be above average for a few days, but not as warm as today. And a flood watch is in effect through Wednesday afternoon.

On Wednesday, the high is expected to be in the upper 40s and then in the upper 30s on Thursday.

There’s also a decent chance of snow every day from Wednesday to Sunday, according to the weather service forecast.