Shawn D. Lewis

The Detroit News

It was a typical warm June day Saturday on Belle Isle.

Cars streamed over the MacArthur Bridge in droves while bikers in shorts rode over and yet others casually strolled. Parking spaces were scarce near the water as families enjoyed the summer weather.

Oh, wait. My bad. It is not summer. It's boring old February singing a summery new tune.

The National Weather Service said Metro Detroit broke the 1976 record of 62 degrees for this day. As of 2:30 p.m. Saturday the temperature had reached 65 degrees.

“It’s the southwesterly wind bringing in warmer temperatures with a clear sky and the full sun is helping out a bit,” said meteorologist Sara Schultz, with the National Weather Service in White Lake Township

Schultz said the normal temperature for Feb. 18 is 36 degrees. She said it will remain in the 50s throughout the week with a chance for rain on Tuesday and Thursday into the weekend.

With a 29 degree difference between this year and last, Shalini Mysore and her family took advantage of it by having a picnic on Belle Isle. They dined in a picnic shelter like many other families on Saturday.

“This is awesome,” said Mysore, who enjoyed the weather with her husband Venkat, son Sohan, 15 months, her parents and cousin Ravi Eswara visiting from Guadalahara and formerly from Auburn Hills.

“We drove around the island for 15 minutes and settled on this spot,” said Venkat Mysore. “This is our first time on Belle Isle, and it is beautiful here.” His wife said after lunch, they were headed to see the acquarium.

Around the rest of the state, Flint is expected to hit 61 and Saginaw 58 — five degrees above their previous records.

Northern Michigan also is forecasting some record-setting temperatures. Meteorologist Aaron Mayhew in Gaylord says Houghton Lake could break its 52-degree record by a degree or two, and Sault Ste. Marie is expecting to match the previous record of 46.

According to the weather service the low Saturday is expected to be 37.

SLewis@detroitnews.com

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Four-day forecast

■Sunday’s high will be around 58 with a low of 34.

■Monday’s high will drop to 52 with a low of 38.

■Tuesday’s high will climb to 57 with a low of 41

■Wednesday will reach to 58 degrees with a low of 45.