Usually temperature rollercoasters are more common in March, but this year the timeline has been bumped up into February.

The week begins with quiet, mild weather on Monday.

Partly cloudy skies will allow temperatures to climb into the 40s through the afternoon.

It looks like a really nice day, by February standards. And no, it’s not the warmest day forecast this week.

Tuesday will be a much more active day.

High temperatures will likely still be above freezing for most, but there could be just a bit of wintry weather before rain begins.

The reason for this is that colder air will be undercutting warmer air.

If you refer to the chart above, that’s the exact set up for some sleet or freezing rain.

The impacts will be pretty short-lived. Warmer air wins out and the entire region will switch over to just plain rain.

Ahead of the cold front on Wednesday, developing sunshine and a westerly breeze will push temperatures to near record levels.

Currently, the forecast high temperature for Portland is 60°. That’s only one degree shy of the record, which was set in 1990.

There’s a chance that interior York county even makes a run for the mid-60s.

This is pretty impressive warmth for February and will do a number on any remaining snow pack in southern Maine.

That ends quickly, though.

Colder air settles in for Thursday and primes Maine for a storm on Friday.

For now, expect plowable snow. It’s still a little too far out to talk specifics right now, but the likelihood of at least 3″ of snow is increasing.

The weekend after looks seasonable with some sunshine.

For other forecast info, follow me on Twitter, @MikeSliferWX.

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