The last day of winter proved, in spirit, the first day of summer.

The Pacific Northwest saw record high temperatures on Tuesday, March 19. Topping out at 79 degrees in Seattle, it was, according to www.accuweather.com, the warmest March high temperature recorded here in 125 years.

The previous record didn’t have much of a tenure: 76 degrees, which was set on Monday.

Typically, according to www.accuweather.com, mid-March temperatures in Seattle are about 54 degrees. And, “Tuesday was the hottest March day in the city’s history dating back to 1894, when officials began keeping records.”

The Spring Equinox was Wednesday, March 20.

Seattle was actually just one of many cities across the region experiencing record-setting highs Tuesday. On Bainbridge Island the top temperature was likewise 79 degrees. Records were also set in Quillayute (81 degrees), Hoquiam (79), Olympia (78), Astoria, Oregon (76) and Bellingham (74).

Why so hot?

The experts at www.acu weather.com reported, “An area of high pressure has parked itself over the Interior Northwest and Pacific Canada, allowing temperatures to soar to unusually high levels.”

And it’s not a trend restricted to the Pacific Northwest.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently eported, via Twitter, “The globe experienced its 4th warmest Jan. thru Feb. (YTD) in 140 years of record-keeping.”