Instant spring: 60s today are warmest since October

The warmest air mass in over 4 months expands it's reach in Minnesota today. You know it's warm when International Falls is pushing 50 degrees in March.

The Twin Cities reaches the 60-degree (plus) mark this afternoon for the first time this year. How unseasonably early is that? Check out these numbers.

• October 27th - last 60-plus degree days in the Twin Cities (67 degrees)

• March 29th - average date of first 60 degree temp at MSP Airport

• March 30th - first 60 at MSP last year

• April 26th - first 60 in 2013

Yes weather fans, spring is about 3 weeks early in Minnesota this year.

 Near record warmth

I'm forecasting low 60s in the metro this afternoon, and that's close to record territory. here's a look at just how close we'll get to records across Minnesota today from the Twin Cities NWS.

A family of warm fronts sails through Minnesota this week. We cool slightly into the upper 50s tomorrow. Thursday's inbound warm front is even warmer than today's air mass.

Unseasonable warmth

Just how far out of whack is this week's warm surge? We log 4 days in the 60s, and even most nights will be above the freezing point for the next week. The trusty European model has been on the money with this week's warm up. Here's the output for the next week. We cool back into the 40s to near 50 next week, but that's still at or above average for the 3rd week of March.

With snow cover on the run, the sun's energy is going into heating bare ground. Watch as the frost starts to exit the top few inches of soil at the UM St. Paul Campus agricultural station the past 48 hours. This process accelerates this week.

Arctic Sea Ice at unprecedented early season low

This is mildly alarming to those who pay close attention to Arctic Sea ice conditions. Ice coverage in the Arctic Ocean is at an all time record low level for early March.

Here's more from NOAA.

The Arctic maximum is expected to occur in the next two or three weeks. Previous years have seen a surge in Arctic ice extent during March (e.g., in 2012, 2014). However, if the current pattern of below-average extent continues, Arctic sea ice extent may set a new lowest winter maximum.

The University of Maine's Climate Reanalyzer shows the unusually warm bubble of air over the North Polar regions and Russia this week, in addition to the expanding warm dome over the central US. Note the numbers at the bottom of the image, temperatures int he Arctic are running +3 degrees Celsius vs. average.

Florida: Just say no to climate change

Maybe if we just don't talk about climate change it will go away? That seems to be the approach from the State of Florida. The Florida Center for Investigative reporting has a stunning story on how Florida officials have tried to essentially ban any talk of climate change, even as rising seas lap at Florida's land and infrastructure.

The state of Florida is the region most susceptible to the effects of global warming in this country, according to scientists. Sea-level rise alone threatens 30 percent of the state’s beaches over the next 85 years.

But you would not know that by talking to officials at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the state agency on the front lines of studying and planning for these changes.

DEP officials have been ordered not to use the term “climate change” or “global warming” in any official communications, emails, or reports, according to former DEP employees, consultants, volunteers and records obtained by the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting.

The policy goes beyond semantics and has affected reports, educational efforts and public policy in a department that has about 3,200 employees and $1.4 billion budget.

“We were told not to use the terms ‘climate change,’ ‘global warming’ or ‘sustainability,’ ” said Christopher Byrd, an attorney with the DEP’s Office of General Counsel in Tallahassee from 2008 to 2013. “That message was communicated to me and my colleagues by our superiors in the Office of General Counsel.”

I'll have more on this incredible story on Thursday's Climate Cast on MPR News at 9:45 am.