Suddenly summer

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Kids at St. Mary's playground in Alexandria liked hanging out in last week's warm sunshine. Photo by Al Edenloff.

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• Photo Gallery: Suddenly Summer / Kids Playing Outside

Wow, what a weekend – if you like an early spring served up with balmy, summer-like temperatures.

After basking in 60-degree temps earlier in the week, Alexandria residents were treated to highs of 75 degrees on Friday and Saturday, and a 76-degree record-busting day on Sunday, according to Accuweather.com.

The temperatures were more than twice as mild than the normal highs this time of year, typically the mid-30s.

KSAX-TV Meteorologist Mark Anthony summed up the weather scene as “surreal.”

“As temperatures hit the 70s and even the lower 80s around the state, my wife and I saw people in shorts ice fishing on area lakes,” Anthony said in his weekly weather column.

Records that had stood for more than a century melted away. Temperatures in the nation’s “ice box” – International Falls – set a new record of 79 degrees on Sunday, shattering the 73-degree mark established in 1910.

The warm weather was the talk of the town at grocery stores, offices, churches, bars, other gathering spots, and, of course, on Facebook.

Here’s how some readers responded to the Echo Press Facebook posting, “What’s your favorite part about the warm weather?”

Tiffany Springer Schmidt: “Going for long walks with my husband and girls and then coming home to sit on the swing together. Love it!”

David Erickson: “This ‘global warming’ is great! Got so much done outside this winter and now, spring. Should of saved a lot on heating fuel!”

Shantelle Roberts: “Sleeping with the windows open – nice cool and warm breeze. Soaking up the sun as much as possible! Doing some gardening inside since I can't garden outside from living in an apartment. Can't wait for it to rain instead of snowing either. I've always loved spring – my favorite season, so it’s nice that it actually came early!”

Lisa Schultz: “Everything from thunderstorms to softball and bonfires to long walks – and it is only the middle of March!”

The summer-like conditions continued on Monday. Temperatures climbed to 73 degrees and later in the afternoon, a thunderstorm rolled through the area, bringing hard rainfall and booming thunder.

Although the crazy temperatures outshined it, spring officially arrived on Tuesday, March 21.

Another thunderstorm is possible later in the week while temperatures will continue to spike to unseasonably warm weather in the upper 60s, breaking more records along the way.

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Tags: local news, news, weather, temperatures