Instead of bundling up with gloves, boots and winter jackets, lots of Jerseyans were sporting T-shirts, sandals and shorts on the second weekend of December.
All across the state on Sunday, New Jerseyans were enjoying a special treat delivered by Mother Nature: Record-breaking warmth.
Instead of bundling up with gloves, boots and winter jackets, lots of Jerseyans were sporting T-shirts, sandals and shorts on the second weekend of December as they strolled on boardwalks along the Shore, played sports in local parks or ate lunch at outdoor tables at cafes and restaurants.
Daily temperature records were shattered up and down the Garden State, from Newark to Atlantic City. The hottest spot in New Jersey was Oswego Lake in Burlington County, which reached 77 degrees.
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Among the record highs were 73 in Atlantic City, 70 in Trenton and 68 in Newark, according to the National Weather Service. And more records could be broken Monday.
Atlantic City's record high for Dec. 14 is 65 degrees, set in 1929, and the temperature is expected to reach 68 Monday afternoon, the weather service said.
(Update: Atlantic City ended up tying its record for Dec. 14, with a high of 65 on Monday. Trenton's high was 68, breaking its old record of 67, set in 1901. Philadelphia's high was 70, breaking its old record of 69, set in 1881. And the high in Allentown, Pa., was 68, breaking its old record of 60, from 2001.)
Where were the warmest places in New Jersey on Sunday? Here's a list of the top 25 spots, based on weather data reported by the New Jersey Weather & Climate Network. The network has temperature readings from 60 weather stations across the state, so every town is not included.
One thing, however, is clear: Temperatures in almost every corner of the state on Sunday were running 20 degrees or more above the normal high for this time of year.
Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Will the warm December last?