A January Thaw Has Arrived for Parts of South, East (RECAP)

A welcomed January thaw engulfed the recently wintry South and East, melting away much of the snow and ice that piled up during Winter Storm Helena late last week and into the weekend. On Sunday, snow was on the ground in a portion of every state except Florida, but any remaining snow in the South and mid-Atlantic was replaced with puddles Wednesday into Thursday.

Thursday, new daily record highs were tied or broken in New York City's Central Park (66 degrees vs. 64 degrees in 1890), Worcester, Massachusetts (57 degrees vs. 55 degrees in 1980), Atlantic City, New Jersey (67 degrees vs. 63 degrees in 1913), Boston (61 degrees), Providence, Rhode Island (60 degrees vs. 59 degrees in 1975), and Columbus, Ohio (67 degrees).

Record highs dating back to 1911 (106 years ago) were broken Wednesday in Oklahoma City and Evansville, Indiana. Additional record highs tied or broken Wednesday include Midland, Texas (83 degrees vs. 78 degrees in 1935), Wichita Falls, Texas (82 degrees vs. 77 degrees in 1928), Dalhart, Texas (74 degrees vs. 71 degrees in 1995), Joplin, Missouri (74 degrees), and Springfield, Missouri (74 degrees).

Oklahoma City's record high of 79 degrees Wednesday was only the seventh time on record that city has reached 79 degrees or higher in the month of January, and it occurred just 4 days after a record low of minus 3 degrees.

(MAPS: 10-Day Forecast High/Low Temperatures)

(MORE: For the U.S., 2016 Was the Second Warmest Year on Record)

The polar jet stream retreated northward into Canada, allowing milder air to move in on a south to southwesterly flow.

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