By Michael E. Ruane
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, January 8, 2008 6:21 PM

The sun gleamed off the holly and magnolia leaves. The south wind rustled the petals of the blue and yellow pansies outside the hotels on 16th Street NW. And the unseasonable warmth filled the park benches at lunchtime in Lafayette Square, across the street from the White House.

On a day made notable by happenings in football and politics, the weather also put on a show today, caressing the Washington region with a record-breaking high temperatures at all three airports, and conditions more like the end of winter than its beginning.

The high temperature of 73 at 2:54 p.m. broke the 10-year-old record of 69 for the date at Reagan National Airport, National Weather Service meteorologist Brian LaSorsa said. The high of 70 at 3:59 p.m. broke the 1998 record of 69 at Dulles International Airport. And the reading of 70 at 3:50 p.m. broke the 1930 record of 69 at Thurgood Marshall Baltimore-Washington International Airport.

LaSorsa said there was a high pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean, with a clockwise flow ushering warm air up from the south. Tomorrow will be a bit cooler and a little windy, with the chance of early-morning rain, but still nice, with a high near 60, he said.

By the way, the average high around here this time of year is in the low 40s.