Feels like late summer to mid-week

Sunday, October 20, 2024 — Last week felt like November. The week ended more like the end of September, and the mild air lasted until the weekend. High pressure has been present in the eastern half of the country since mid-week and this trend is expected to continue through mid-week. Rochester topped 70 degrees for the first time since Oct. 6 and the fourth time this month. Here's a look at where temperatures were across the region on Sunday.

Towards the evening the temperatures drop back below 50°C. It will be significantly milder than recent nights, with a southwesterly breeze keeping the atmosphere well mixed despite the low dew points and clear skies.

As fall progresses, the sun's angle in the sky gets lower and lower, and solar radiation alone makes it harder to reach the 70s and 80s without stronger winds. Wind gusts at the airport reached 26 miles per hour on Sunday, and that trend is expected to continue for the next two to three days. With highs near 80 degrees on Tuesday, you'll notice a more steady breeze again, bringing much milder air to the region from the southwest as high pressure slides further east.

Starting Wednesday, mostly clear skies will begin to fill with a few more clouds. An approaching cold front will bring some showers to the region late Wednesday, with significantly cooler air returning on Thursday. Enjoy this warm, sunny stretch while you still can