We still have two weeks left in the month, but if the warm trend continues, New Jersey could match or break an all-time record for its warmest December.
The December warm spell keeps on rolling, with additional temperature records shattered Monday -- and again Tuesday morning -- and warmer-than-usual highs expected for another three days before the mercury starts to cool down.
Halfway through the month, weather experts are keeping a close eye on the all-time record book, saying there's a possibility this could turn out to be the warmest December ever in New Jersey.
The warmest on record was in 2006, when the Garden State averaged 42.2 degrees, followed by 2001, when the state averaged 41.7 degrees.
"We're certainly on a pace to challenge the 2006 record," State Climatologist David Robinson said Tuesday morning, "and already almost a lock to be in the top 10."
During the first 14 days of this month, New Jersey's average temperature was running about 10 degrees above normal as a wave of warm air blanketed most of the East coast and colder air remained locked up in northern Canada.
To calculate the final monthly average, temperature readings from all across the state for the 17 remaining days (Dec. 15 to Dec. 31) have to be factored in.
PLUS: Why was N.J. so foggy Monday morning?
Computer forecast models are showing cooler, but closer-to-normal, temperatures flowing into New Jersey this weekend before warmer air returns next week. Highs will be in the low 40s during the weekend, then could rise as high as the upper 60s by Christmas Day, according to AccuWeather projections.
Long-range forecasts are predicting above-normal temperatures, in the high 40s to low 50s, to persist through New Year's Eve.
NEW RECORDS SET
Among the temperature records broken Tuesday were those in Newark and Trenton, according to the National Weather Service.
Newark had a high of 68 degrees, one degree higher than the city's previous record for Dec. 15, set in 2008. Trenton had a high of 67, one degree higher than the city's old record, set in 1971 and tied in 2008.
Several new record high temperatures set earlier today, December 15th. pic.twitter.com/lTT8t61Ccp
-- NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) December 15, 2015
Shortly after midnight, high temperature records were broken at 5 of our 6 climate sites. pic.twitter.com/WYCQT2rnmk
-- NWS New York NY (@NWSNewYorkNY) December 15, 2015
A total of 21 daily record highs were broken in the past 3 days at our 8 climate sites. pic.twitter.com/hmBImkJrX3
-- NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) December 14, 2015
Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
