Record-breaking, unseasonable heat is expanding east over the southeastern U.S. beginning on Tuesday, after sending temperatures across Texas soaring into the mid-80s to start the week.

This comes as part of a weather whiplash across parts of the Midwest, southern Plains and Southeast which experienced freezing temperatures last week before immediately climbing into conditions more reminiscent of late spring. 

ACTIVE END TO NOVEMBER COULD LEAD TO POTENTIAL POLAR VORTEX INFUSED COLD AND SNOW TO START DECEMBER

Last week, some areas in the Southeast experienced record-breaking low temperatures amid a fall freeze.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, over 80 record low temperatures were broken before the start of the weekend. A significant dip in the jet stream allowed arctic air to surge south, as locations such as Macon, Georgia, broke a 100-year-old record with temperatures dropping to 25 degrees at one point.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

Since last Thursday, the cold weather has given way to a more spring-like feel for people in the Southeast and Southern Plains. More than 300 heat-related records were broken this past weekend. 

Areas such as Lubbock, Texas, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Flagstaff, and Phoenix, Arizona, experienced their warmest start to November on record, according to the FOX Forecast Center.

With that being said, the heat surge isn’t over yet, with the warmth shifting to the Southern Plains and Southeast this week. Over 100 million Americans are expected to experience warmer-than-normal temperatures to start the week.

The warm weather is expected to climb into the 80s for the majority of the week, with the potential for even more records to be broken through Friday. 

WHAT TO EXPECT FOR THE REST OF NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER

The reason behind the warmer weather is a strong ridge of high pressure anchored over the Gulf of America, combined with an active storm track in the West, which is the reason behind this stretch of unseasonable warmth.

Locations such as Abilene, Texas, could experience the warmest November day since 1938.

This is an unusual temperature change for this time of year, as we are just a few weeks away from the start of winter.

Many other locations across the Southeast will see a similar pattern, with temperatures running 15–20 degrees above average, making it feel more like May than November.

LA NIÑA EXPECTED TO LAST THROUGH 2026

Despite the unseasonable weather across parts of the country, the heat will help fuel the return of heavy rain and potentially severe storms for this week. 

If you find yourself affected by the unseasonably warm weather this week, be sure to take advantage of it before the arctic chill returns.