Warm Conditions Offer Rare Chance to Dress Down

Unseasonable warmth gave Washington a welcome reprieve yesterday from the bitter cold that enveloped much of the area last week.

Temperatures climbed yesterday to the upper 60s across much of the District, Virginia and Maryland, more than 20 degrees above the average high for the date. The midday high of 70 at Reagan National Airport was only five degrees off the day's record, set more than 60 years ago. Weather-wise, it was an abrupt about-face in an area that saw temperatures barely break 28 degrees just a week ago.

Despite overcast skies, drizzle and a breeze that put a slight chill in the air yesterday afternoon, T-shirts and light sweaters were out in force in front of the White House, along Pennsylvania Avenue. Tourists carried jackets under their arms, and scarves were loosened. More than a few people broke out flip-flops for the occasion.

The crowd at the FreshFarm Market in Dupont Circle took advantage of the prime outdoor conditions, numbering nearly 1,850 yesterday, about 200 more than last week, said Pat Lute, a spokeswoman for the farmers market.

"We had a great day," Lute said. "One farmer completely sold out of parsnips, which, if you know parsnips, is unusual."

Frank Strait, senior meteorologist at AccuWeather.com, said the sharp changes from balmy and wet early this month, to frigid last week and then back to balmy were reminiscent of December 2006. But he said the seeming spring would end.

"This will be the last of the mild temperatures, at least for a while," Strait said.

The forecast for today is for sunny skies and temperatures reaching up into the low 50s. By New Year's Day, the high temperature will return to seasonal norms of the low 40s or slightly below, forecasters said.

In the Midwest, the warmth caused problems. On the heels of a cold front and powerful thunderstorms, it caused flooding and power outages across many parts of Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and Missouri.