‘I COULDN’T MISS IT’

County residents take advantage as a taste of summer reveals itself

Soaring temperatures and plenty of sunshine sent scores of Macomb County residents flocking outdoors Tuesday to take in as much warm weather as possible before winter returns.

So did we set a record with all that warmth?

“We did more than that,” said Alex Manion, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service bureau in Oakland County.

Temperatures broke a 48-year-old record with 73 degrees reported at Detroit Metropolitan Airport in Romulus. The old record of 63 was set back in 1976, according to Manion.

In addition, Tuesday’s high was the alltime record for the month of February. That beat out a record of 70 set in 2017.

“We’ve never seen these kind of temperatures in February,” Manion said.

The sun’s warm rays lured people outside to places like Dodge Park in Sterling Heights and Partridge Creek Mall in Clinton Township, where shorts and tank tops were the attire of choice.

At local parks, parents pushed their children in strollers, while others walked their dogs, rode on skateboards or just sat and enjoyed the scenery.

Hundreds flooded Dodge Park in Sterling Heights, taking up much of the 51-acre site.

Emily Holsinger was with a friend balancing herself on a slack line, an elastic, 1-inch-wide plastic strip strung between two park lines. The lines are used to practice

on highlines, which are used at higher heights.

Holsinger said she came out “mostly for fun and to get outside.”

“It’s 70 degrees — I figured I couldn’t miss it,” said the 22-year-old Macomb Township resident. “There is a tremendous amount of people out today compared to normal.”

Alas, all good things must come to an end.

Following an expected series of thunderstorms

— bringing hail, 60 mph winds and rain — later Tuesday night and into Wednesday, snow is in the forecast for Wednesday along with a wind advisory. The snow could be between a dusting and one inch.

Temperatures will start out Wednesday in the 50-degree range and fall to around 28 by 5 p.m.

On Thursday, the forecast calls for sunny conditions with a high near 38 and near 50 on Friday.

PHOTOS BY MITCH HOTTS — THE MACOMB DAILY Dodge Park in Sterling Heights was alive with activity Tuesday as hundreds of people ventured outdoors to hike, ride their bicycles and skateboards, and walk their dogs.

Emily Holsinger, 22, of Macomb Township, balances herself on a slack line Tuesday at Dodge Park in Sterling Heights. Like many others, Holsinger headed outdoors for the warm weather.