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Mild temperatures continue in the region

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February 23, 2012|By Alli Knothe and Martin Finucane

There’s still no hope for those backyard skating rinks.

It was unusually warm again today in Southern New England, with temperatures rising about 10 degrees above normal to the low 50s in some areas.

The National Weather Service says a round of showers will arrive tonight, followed by a period of clearing Thursday.

“Thursday’s another delightful day with highs in the mid-50s,” said weather service meteorologist Alan Dunham.

Forecasters say the area may see a rain-snow mix when a low pressure system arrives Friday.

The weekend is expected to be fairly nice, Dunham said. But with temperatures in the 40s, gusty northwest winds Saturday will make it feel much colder.

Drier, colder weather is expected early next week.

February is looking like it will be another month that will go into the record books for higher than normal temperatures, the Weather Service said.

As of Sunday, the average temperature for the month in Boston was 36.4 degrees, which was 5.6 degrees above normal. That would make the month tied for fourth warmest since recordkeeping began in 1872, forecasters said.