Feb. 24, 2012
As temperatures in the D.C. area soared into the 60s yesterday, many Catholic University students took to the outdoors to bask in February's unseasonably warm winter weather.
A group of CUA students riding their bikes down a road toward the Columbus School of Law Lawn chatted excitedly about the beautiful weather. Several students took laptops and books outside to soak up some warmth while studying on the grounds of the largest campus in Washington, D.C. Others threw around baseballs, footballs, and Frisbees on CUA's campus.
The average high temperature for Washington, D.C., so far this February is 51.1 degrees, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). High temperatures for February usually average 39 degrees, the NWS reports. This month, 14 days have hit 50 degrees or above. The thermometer hit 67 degrees on Thursday and was expected to approach 70 again on Friday, Feb. 24.
Sophomore nursing majors Kelly Pace, from Eatontown, N.J., and Caroline Wadman, from Andover, Mass., relaxed on blankets while studying for midterms on the lawn next to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. When asked if they missed winter, both shook their heads emphatically no. Wadman said she has been taking advantage of the unusually warm winter by running outdoors rather than in the gym.
Four young men playing basketball said they have used the outdoor courts near the Eugene I. Kane Student Fitness Center almost every day this winter. Yesterday was no different, as they taunted one another during a game of two-on-two.
One of the players, sophomore politics major Jack McCarthy, from Albany N.Y., said he has been outside as often as possible this winter and has been going into downtown D.C. more often.
"This is why I came down south!" exclaimed Ryan Morrison, a sophomore politics major from Boston, as he stood on the court.
Unseasonable weather does pose some problems, such as what to wear. Students crossing through Centennial Village wore everything from boots to tanks tops to sweatshirts to shorts. Some went barefoot.
Freshman exploratory student Katie Burton, from Falmouth, Mass., was lounging on the grass in Centennial Village with fellow freshmen Bianca Botero-Murphy, a media studies major from Wilmington, Del., and Katelyn Roberts, a nursing major from Long Island, N.Y.
"I play on the lacrosse team, so it's nice to play outside in the warmer weather," Burton said.
At least a few students, however, missed typical winter weather.
"It's weird, it should be snowing," said Betsy Palmer, a freshman exploratory student from Star Valley, Wyo., who was throwing a baseball around with Peter Gohn, a freshman history major from North Andover, Mass.
"I miss winter. I love the snow," added Gohn. "But we couldn't let this day go to waste."
Students may have to put away the shorts and flip-flops over the weekend, however. After a chance of thunderstorms this afternoon, temperatures will dip into the upper 40s to near 50 on Saturday and Sunday. But the cold spell may be brief. Forecasters are calling for temperatures in the upper 50s to low 60s again early next week.