Record warmth won’t last for long Meteorologist reminds: It’s January

A record high is expected again today.

By DAVID SKOLNICK

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — With people wearing short-sleeved shirts and some breaking out pairs of shorts, it’s hard to believe the same area was covered by 5.6 inches of snow a week ago.

The Mahoning Valley went from snow last Tuesday and a low of 12 degrees Friday to a record high Monday and another one expected today.

“It’s nice to have a little respite from the cold,” said Jim Kosarik, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Cleveland. “Some people will complain, like those who ski or have an interest in the winter weather. Those who plow snow or ice fishermen probably aren’t happy. But it will be cold again. It is January.”

Monday’s high temperature of 62 degrees at 3:59 p.m. topped the old record high for Jan. 7 by 4 degrees: 58 degrees in 1998.

It’s supposed to be even warmer today, Kosarik said.

The National Weather Service is predicting a high today of 66 degrees. The warmest Jan. 8 on record is 1965 when the high was 58 degrees.

The average temperature for both dates for the Valley is 25 degrees.

Record high temperatures were also recorded Monday in Columbus and Toledo. In other parts of the state, the high temperatures Monday were 20 degrees to 30 degrees above average.

Though there are no more record highs expected for the rest of the week, it’s going to be unseasonably warm for a few more days, Kosarik said.

The high is expected to be in the mid-40s on Wednesday and Thursday and then in the low 40s on Friday. The average temperature for each of those three days is 25 degrees.

A cold front expected to move through the state later this week should bring more seasonable temperatures, said Myron Padgett, a weather meteorologist in Wilmington.

The high for Saturday is expected to be in the mid-30s.

The National Weather Service warned that the warmth could pose problems in northwest Ohio, where flood warnings and watches were posted for a few counties that received several inches of snow last week. The weather service said melting snow would combine with heavy rain today to cause minor flooding along rivers, including the Tiffin and the St. Joseph.

skolnick@vindy.com

X The Associated Press contributed to this story.