Tonawanda, N.Y. (WBEN) - It was a record-breaking weather day in Western New York on Monday, seeing the Buffalo Airport register temperatures in the 70s, which shattered the previous high temperature set back in 1974.
With temperatures soaring well-past average rates on Monday, it saw residents from all across the region take to outdoor spaces like Niawanda Park in the City of Tonawanda to enjoy the beautiful weather for early March.
"I can't complain at all," said Doug from Lewiston, enjoying the day with his young family. "We just had a little one, so we're happy to get him out for his first big long walk. Just really happy to be enjoying the nice weather."
"It's beautiful, I absolutely love it," added Julie from Buffalo with her dog Jackson. "I'm normally a third shifter, and this week I got switched to first shift. So it's actually pretty convenient for myself."
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For Tonawanda residents Russell and Linda, they just got back from visiting family in Maryland and were taken aback by the beautifully warm temperatures.
"It was only about 40-something out there. Then we come back here, who's expected 70? My sister's from this area, and we come home 70 degrees. I can't believe it, this is nice," said Russell.
North Tonawanda native Rick says he'll take the uniquely warm weather on this leap year. He says he's thankful he only had to get his snowblower out two times this year, and is hopeful the snow will not fall in chunk again this late winter.
"The older I get, the more I dislike winter. I'm done. I was done after Christmas," joked Rick on Monday.
What about others in Western New York? Are they ready to declare this winter season officially over and put away the warmer weather gear? While some are certainly ready to move on to spring, others are not holding their breath.
"You can never trust the weather," Russell said. "I don't know. I don't think we're gonna see any snow. I think it's over."
"Definitely reserving myself, but I'm always gonna take the nice days when they come, there's no question about that," Doug added. "Definitely not ready to call it yet. We're from Buffalo, you never know."
For other residents like John from West Seneca, he is always reminded of something someone once told him when he was growing up as a kid.
"I'm from an era where the old people told us, 'You've just gotta wait until St. Patrick's Day. If you [don't] get snow storms after St. Patrick's Day, you don't have to worry," he said on Friday.
Now with the winter weather starting to fade away and warmer conditions on the horizon, what are some of the big to-do items for Western New Yorkers? For many, it's the beginning of "spring cleaning" chores and freshening up their property.
"Our windows are filthy, so in-and-out on the windows. Outside, the yard, I've got a lot of bare patches I want to get fixed up. And get all the sticks off my garage, I don't want to go up there in the winter because I'll fall," Rick detailed. "But overall, just yard work and cleaning up the outside. Like anybody, right? You want to make it look nice."
"We recently bought the house we're living in, and we're looking to have a fence put up. [My wife] loves to plant all her flowers, shrubs and stuff like that," John added. "And trying to find a way to keep the deer out of my yard, and I've got to put a fence up. They're eating everything."
As for others like Julie, it's about starting some gardening, and also getting ready to enjoy some outdoor activities on the water this season.
"Get out on the kayaks. We got the kayak racks on the car ready today, we're planning on going later. So already starting and kicking it off," Julie said.