The unseasonably warm weather we have been experiencing across Wisconsin will continue with record high temperatures likely to be broken in many areas across the state on Thursday.

It is hard to believe that a little more than a week ago, we were dealing with dangerous wind chills, temperatures near or below zero, and Cold Weather Advisories and Warnings across the state. Temperatures did not make it out of the single digits on Tuesday, Jan. 21 with many areas in northern Wisconsin staying below zero all day.

Now, it seems as if Mother Nature has overcorrected, sending the pendulum in the opposite direction. High temperatures on Thursday, Jan. 30 will climb into the 40s and 50s, shattering high temperature records in many locations.

Green Bay, Madison, and La Crosse will likely break their previous record highs for the day by 5 to 10 degrees. Milwaukee will come close to the previous record of 53, but the odds are likely that we will see the record at least tied Thursday afternoon. Eau Claire and Rhinelander will get close to record territory, but may not quite reach that threshold.

The reason for the warmth? A ridge of high pressure moving in from the west will push east of the state by early Thursday. This will allow for our winds to shift out of the southwest, ushering in warm and dry air.

Temperatures will drop after Thursday with highs back in the 30s this weekend. It will feel more like winter next week with statewide highs in the teens and 20s, so enjoy our late January thaw before it all comes to an end and Mother Nature reminds us that winter is far from over.