Hundreds of U.S. counties set high temperature records this winter
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Hundreds of western U.S. counties just had their warmest winters on record, per the latest data.
Why it matters: The widespread record-setting illustrates the unusually high temperatures across much of the western U.S. for the past few months.
- It's been a brutally warm winter for much of the West and Southwest, with implications ranging from bad ski and snowboard seasons to concerns about water supplies and wildfires in the months ahead.
By the numbers: More than 420 counties had their warmest December-February periods on record.
- That's according to NOAA data covering the last 131 years.
Between the lines: "A ridge of high pressure has dominated the western half of the country, allowing for consistent warmer weather to prevail as well as causing the jet stream to steer storms further north, limiting snowfall for the mountains," per Weather.com.
What's next: More records will likely be set this week as an unusual March heat dome blankets the Western U.S., with temperatures expected to reach the triple digits in some places.
Go deeper: Colorado is on track for its worst snowpack on record
