Warmth March-ing on

It won't quite match the historic, other-worldly warmth of December, but this month is almost certain to become the fourth-warmest March in Philadelphia in records dating to 1874.

Based on forecasts for the next two days, the monthly average at Philadelphia International Airport will come in at 50.8 degrees, a robust 7.6 degrees above normal.

That would give No. 3, 1945, 51.2, a run for its money, but No. 2, 2012, 52.2, and No. 1, 1921, 52.5, are safely out of reach.

Philly shared the warmth with the entire Midatlantic and Northeast, as Burlington, Vt., was running 5.5 degrees above normal through Monday; Hartford, Conn., 6.3, Washington, 7, and Albany, 7.7.

We also should note that Albany has had a mere 10.5 inches of snow this winter; normal is 57.5. The Philly total stands at 27.2, and it isn't often that Philadelphia out-snows Albany.

Philadelphia experienced temperatures of 70 or better seven times in March, including that spell of June earlier in the month when it reached 80 on back-to-back days.

Of course, given the way the atmosphere has behaved recently, we shouldn't be surprised that all signs point to genuine December-like weather making an appearance early next week.