WEATHER: Temps to be thankful for

In work or in play, two record-setting warm days in a row gave people in the area a reason to end the season in full-swing.

Wednesday in Grand Forks, the temperature hit 60 degrees breaking the 1939 record of 54 degrees. It was 62 degrees at the Grand Forks airport, which broke the 1964 record high of 46 degrees. It was the second day in a row of record-setting temps in both places, according to Grand Forks meteorologist Dan Riddle.

Tuesday, a new record high of 57 degrees was set, breaking the 1917 record of 55 degrees, Riddle said.

It's been a "record-setting week pretty much everywhere," Riddle said. He said it's not unusual to have stretches of warmer weather at any time of the year. A little more uncommon would be two-record setting warm days in a row, he added.

The weather will continue to be mild today, but it will begin cooling off as "colder air begins to ooze into North Dakota and Minnesota," Riddle said.

"It will be a good 20 degrees cooler for the highs (today)," he said.

But, the temperature still will be 5 to 10 degrees warmer than average.

Which means people in the area will be able to take advantage of a mild Thanksgiving holiday. The warmer weather already has had its benefits.

Through the week, area farmers, particularly those who had late harvest crops, were able to get a little more work done, according to Grand Forks county extension agent Willie Huot. "The extended fall has been a great help in getting late fall work done," he said.

So, producers have been able to lay out more fertilizers in some areas and to till more land in other areas. In some areas, drainage ditches have been cleaned of cattails.

"It's been kind of a bonus," Huot said. "We need to enjoy the sunshine, while it shines."

The extra warm temps allow for extra tillage and fertilizer application without causing damage, as would be the scenario if the ground was frozen, he said.

Some producers, such as Chad Anvinson, who farms near Oslo, Minn., had retired equipment for the winter.

But some pieces of equipment came out again this week, Anvinson said.

"In all the time I've been farming, there have been only one or two years we've been able to work this late in the season," he said. Anvinson has been farming since 1989. He raises wheat, dry beans and sugarbeets.

But, where there's work, there's play.

Warmer temps sent scores of walkers and joggers out on the streets. It even prompted the opening of one area golf course.

Area golfers took advantage of an open Valley Golf Course on the north end of East Grand Forks on Tuesday and Wednesday, while temps soared into the 50s and 60s.

"We're going to stay open through Thanksgiving Day," said general manager Scott Eggers. It's the second year since 1979 the golf course has opened in an unusual month, Eggers said. The golf course opened up every month in 2000, he said.

It was a split-second decision to get it opened up Tuesday.

"It's not every year you have an opportunity to golf this late in November," Eggers said. "We had bad weather for golfing in October, but with this nice weather, we decided to give everyone one last shot at it."

Golfers had a few more obstacles to get around Wednesday, including snow fences, but they swarmed over the golf course anyhow.

"It might be the last time until spring," said Chet Filipski, who took a turn around the course early Wednesday with his friend, Mike Perry.

The golf course will be open today, Eggers said.

To get on the course today, call (218) 773-1207 first, he said.