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In January and February eastern Pennsylvania residents endured some of the coldest temperatures the area has experienced in a decade. Memories of this winter’s bitter thermometer readings seemed to fade on Monday, however, as the mercury soared into the mid and upper 60s in the Saucon Valley.

For anyone who was out and about, clear skies, bright sunshine and a light breeze added to the sense that spring is truly just around the corner.

In Hellertown, Water Street Park was abuzz with activity, as players hit the basketball court and borough public works employees got a jump start on springtime maintenance work. Along the nearby Saucon Rail Trail, dozens of people walked, jogged and rode their bicycles without jackets and without fear of encountering a patch of ice.

According to the National Weather Service, so far this month temperatures at Allentown have averaged about 1.2 degrees above normal. The normal high temperature for this time of year is around 49 degrees and lows are typically in the upper 20s.

The warmup the area is currently experiencing will continue Tuesday, when highs could approach the 70-degree mark. The record high in Allentown for March 11 is 73 degrees, which was set in 2021, according to the National Weather Servcie.