It was weirdly mild in Bawlmer this afternoon. Saw lots of folks in shorts. Then again, such weather is not all that unusual around here.

The thermometer down at BWI-Marshall airport reached 69 degrees this afternoon - more than 25 degrees above the average high for the date. It was not a record. That would be the 74-degree high recorded in the city on Dec. 28, 1946.

But it does measure up as the warmest day for Baltimore since Nov. 15, when we saw 73 degrees at BWI. And, it was the mildest December day in more than two years - since the 72-degree high reached on Dec. 18, 2006.

We could have done better with a little sunshine. All but 10 dates in December at BWI have records of 70 degrees or higher.

On the other hand, our morning low at BWI was 56 degrees. That's two degrees above the record high minimum for the date, set back in 1881. If temperatures don't drop below 56 degrees before midnight tonight, that (56) could stand as a new record high minimum temperature for the date.

The weather ahead looks like it will be clearing up as a cold front passes through late today and high pressure begins to build into the region. You could already see the clear blue skies on the city's northern horizon this afternoon. Daytime highs will slide into the 50s for the next few days, and the 40s by Wednesday. There is mention of a chance of snow showers in the area for late in the week.

If today's weather seemed odd, get a load of this: My family and I were up in Erie, Pa. for the holiday. We enjoyed snow much of the day on Christmas Day. The next night included thunder and lightning as warm air moved from the southwest and into the Great Lakes. And by Saturday morning temperatures were in the mid-60s - the same Gulf air mass we had in Baltimore today.

On the ride home Saturday, we drove out of the mild air and back into the cold air and fog hugging the east side of the mountains. Temperatures dropped from the 60s to the 40s within a couple of miles.

Weird.