Warm West, Frozen East as Temperature Extremes Persist

Southern California and other Western regions set to break daily high temperature records as deep freeze continues in Northeast and Southeast.

Published on Feb. 3, 2026

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As a deep freeze grips the Eastern U.S., the West is experiencing a prolonged period of unseasonably warm weather, with several cities in California, Oregon, and Montana expected to break daily high temperature records on Tuesday. Meanwhile, parts of Florida will get a brief respite from the cold before cooler temperatures return later this week.

Why it matters

The stark contrast in weather patterns across the country highlights the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events driven by climate change. While the West experiences an early taste of summer, the prolonged cold snap in the East disrupts daily life and strains energy grids, raising concerns about the impacts of such dramatic temperature swings.

The details

On Monday, several cities in the West set new daily high temperature records, including Escondido, California, which hit 92 degrees, and Phoenix, Arizona, which saw temperatures climb to 85. The warm weather in the West is expected to continue on Wednesday, with Los Angeles forecast to reach 89 degrees. However, wind advisories are in place for parts of Southern California, with gusts up to 55 mph expected. Meanwhile, much of Florida remained under a freeze warning on Tuesday morning, and several cities throughout the Southeast set daily low temperature records on Monday, including Gainesville, Florida, which recorded a low of 22 degrees.

  • On Monday, several cities in the West set new daily high temperature records.
  • On Tuesday, Southern California and other parts of the West are expected to see another day of balmy weather, with some areas poised to break daily high temperature records.
  • On Wednesday, the warm weather in the West is expected to continue, with Los Angeles forecast to reach 89 degrees.
  • Wind advisories are in place for parts of Southern California from 4 a.m. Pacific time on Wednesday through noon on Thursday.
  • Much of Florida remained under a freeze warning on Tuesday morning.

The players

Burbank, California

A city in Southern California expected to hit 87 degrees on Tuesday.

Long Beach, California

A city in Southern California that could hit 89 degrees on Tuesday.

Escondido, California

A city in Southern California that set a new daily high temperature record of 92 degrees on Monday.

Phoenix, Arizona

A city in Arizona that saw temperatures climb to 85 degrees on Monday, setting a new daily high temperature record.

Orlando, Florida

A city in Florida that is forecast to top 70 degrees on Wednesday, providing a brief respite from the cold before cooler temperatures return.

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What’s next

The warm weather in the West is expected to slowly spread through the middle of the country next week, while the deep freeze in the East is expected to continue through the week and into the weekend.

The takeaway

The dramatic temperature swings across the U.S. underscore the need for communities to prepare for and adapt to the impacts of climate change, including investing in resilient infrastructure, emergency response systems, and public education campaigns to help residents cope with extreme weather events.