In a span of two weeks, temperatures in Schuylkill County have ranged from single digits Jan. 4 to the low 50s the weekend of Jan. 7 and 8, according to the National Weather Service, State College.
"That's kind of a big swing in temperatures," Craig Evanego, NWS meteorologist, said Saturday. "Temperatures in the 50s are abnormally warm for January. Overall, it has been a mild winter, a little above-normal temperature-wise. There has been some chilly stretches but it seems like there has not been any persistent cold air. It's just the way this winter has gone."
Evanego said temperatures Saturday night were expected to drop to about 10 degrees.
"Tuesday, there's a good chance of rain with milder temperatures in the mid-40s, then it cools back down again," Evanego said. "Wednesday, we could see a few morning snow showers and from Thursday to Saturday, temperatures will be in the mid- to upper-30s."
Saturday's low temperatures did not keep Les Morgan, 54, of Schuylkill Haven, and his two dogs, Zoey and Baxter, from their daily walk in Bubeck Park, Schuylkill Haven.
"We come here every day at this time," Morgan said. "They love it. They look forward to it and know when it's that time of the day. Usually, they pull me along as they chase the ducks and squirrels."
Zoey and Baxter didn't seem to mind the temperature. Each was wearing a sweater - Zoey's was pink and Baxter's was blue.
"They're characters," Morgan said. "I think they got more coats than I do."
It was warmer inside Fairlane Village mall, Pottsville, where Bob and Shirley Antonini, Schuylkill Haven, stopped for dinner with their three children after the Winter Carnival Snowdrop fashion show.
"We've been lucky with the weather," Bob Antonini said. "I wish it would've stayed warmer but the reality is this is what we usually get this time of year where we live. It could be worse."
Antonini, however did say temperatures were unusual this year.
"I would say that it has been a little warmer than usual this year but people are generally happy about that," Antonini said.
Shirley Antonini is one of those people.
"I particularly don't like the cold at all," Shirley Antonini said. "I was so happy when we had those three warm days. I was hoping it would stay that way. I guess I just have to grin and bear it as I look forward to spring."
Jim Snyder, 64, of Tower City, who was also at the mall, said he didn't mind the day's weather since there is usually more snow.
"I don't mind the cold," Snyder said. "It's not that bad. It's the wind that gets you. I try to stay inside when it gets cold out."
Snyder said although it has been unusually warm this year, winter still has a few more months.
"We didn't have a winter yet," Snyder said. "We used to get so much snow. The weather's been changing. We saved in oil so far this year, but there is still three more months of winter yet. We could get a lot of snow by then."
