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WILLMAR — If you thought the warm trend experienced in and around Kandiyohi County the last few days was a bit unusual, that is because it has never really happened before. Well, at least for as long as records have been kept by the National Weather Service Twin Cities office based in Chanhassen.
As of Wednesday afternoon at 3:40 p.m., Willmar was observing a temperature of 79F degrees, which breaks the previous high record set back in 1978 of 75F degrees, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Tyler Hasenstein.
Wednesday wasn't the only record-breaking day of the week, as Tuesday saw a high of 73, which tied the previous record set back in 1938.
The records are unofficial, Hasenstein said, as Willmar is not one of the sites in Minnesota where they track climate site official records, but is a record for the observing location.
Hasenstein noted the warm trend is "unusual" for this time of the year in Minnesota; however, it comes as very little of a surprise with October also being much warmer than usual throughout the state.
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Folks throughout Willmar weren't complaining about the warmer-than-normal temperatures Wednesday, as Robbins Island Regional Park was filled with young children and their families playing outdoors before Old Man Winter inevitably sets up shop for months on end.
The current warm weather is being driven by a strong system to the west and strong southerly winds coming from the central and southern Plains, Hasenstein said. Starting Thursday, the weather will move back into a normal range again with highs in the mid-60s and a possibility for rain and snow overnight.
