Winter and spring 2012 were warmer than usual across much of the map. By the spring equinox on March 20, strong south winds blowing warm air northward from the Gulf of Mexico had brought a record-breaking heat wave. Meteorologist Andrew Feedman called this heat wave historic. Never since record-keeping began has a weather pattern been so long-lasting, so geographically broad, so early and so extreme. Think about this as you compare the maps showing singing robins in 2011 and 2012: |
