Warm air and a persistent fog melted most of the region's lingering snow on Sunday as temperatures peaked more than 20 degrees above normal.
The long-delayed sun arrived in the afternoon and nudged temperatures to a high of 54 degrees, according to AccuWeather senior meteorologist John Dlugoenski. The normal high temperature for the day is 33 degrees and the record, set in 1932, is 69 degrees.
"We weren't even close to that," he said. "Although if we had a little bit more sunshine out there, it might have gotten into the low 60s."
The mild weather was enough to encourage activities that otherwise might have waited until spring.
Josh Senchak said the warm day provided him with a chance to "make up for lost time" on the bicycle he had not touched in more than a month.
The Scranton resident tried his luck on the ramps and rails at the Jackson Street Skate Park.
"I am a little rusty, but normally I never get the chance to ride during January, so this is a bonus," he said.
Arturo Vasquez counted down to zero and then gently pushed two swings forward - momentarily allowing his sons to enjoy the unusually warm January weather from about seven feet off the ground in Nay Aug Park.
"You can only dream about this kind of weather at this point of the year," said Mr. Vasquez, a Scranton resident. "We've been here for three hours, just hanging out. You have to enjoy it while it lasts."
The warm temperatures will linger until early today, with a high of about 50 degrees, then fall quickly as a cold front moves into the region in the afternoon, Mr. Dlugoenski said.
Temperatures are expected to hover slightly above normal through Thursday, he said, with colder air likely starting on Friday and continuing through the weekend.
Contact the writers: llegere@timesshamrock.com, miorfino@timesshamrock.com