The thermometer outside was forecast to read somewhere in the five to six degree range this morning.  It sat at nine degrees when I went to bed around 1 a.m.

But at 6:30 a.m. it read.

Say what?

That’s right. Twelve degrees.  That’s a relative heat wave that beat Tuesday’s high.

The forecast predicts the mercury will climb to 39 today and only drop to about 22 tonight.

Break out the Hawaiian shirts and tiki lamps.

Time for a picnic.

If the current forecast holds, the highs will reach 61 — with rain — by Saturday and then drop back into the 50s and 40s next week.

Given the arctic temperatures of the last couple of days, we can live with that.