Residents Toss Their Cares, Coats Aside

Yesterday was by far Washington's warmest day of 2009, and although the temperature set no record, it fell only a degree short.

Even more important, the 67-degree high temperature at Reagan National Airport came on a Sunday, fostering a kind of holiday atmosphere in and around Washington.

Whether in short sleeves or long, in slacks or in cutoffs, people bicycled, skated, took the kids for a walk in the park, ate outdoors at restaurants, snapped each others' pictures and seemed to smile a lot.

Appearing to suspend concern about the fate of the federal stimulus program and similar matters, residents seemed delighted by a day that was at least six degrees warmer than any other this month and at least 16 degrees warmer than any day last month.

National Weather Service records show the high temperature for Feb. 8 as 68 degrees, recorded in 1900. And Feb. 8 fell on a Thursday that year, presumably offering less time for outdoor enjoyment than yesterday's sunny, if breezy, 67-degree weekend afternoon.

Throughout the weekend, warm weather was recorded throughout the region.

Forecasters said high pressure centered off the Georgia coast sent warm air northward. Atmospheric mixing made yesterday warmer than expected, according to the Weather Service.

In places, temperatures reached the 70s. At 5 p.m., the hourly reading at Quantico was 73.

It was 69 yesterday in Charlottesville and 66 at Dulles International Airport. In Blacksburg, Va., the 61-degree reading set a record, 18 degrees above normal.

The 65 degrees recorded at Dulles on Saturday broke the record for the date. In Roanoke, a 68-degree reading Saturday matched a record for the date set in 1927.

Today is expected to be sunny with highs in the mid-50s, the Weather Service said, and tomorrow could be a little warmer.