It’s warm.

So warm that in a Minnesota January people were out walking without jackets, some even in T-shirts.

So warm that golf courses in some areas had waiting lists.

So warm that people are almost expecting spring to be just around the corner.

Tuesday’s high temperature in Albert Lea was 57 degrees, easily a new record for the date. The old record for Jan. 7 in Albert Lea, which was set in 1900, was 45.

People all over the city were shedding jackets and getting out to enjoy the balmy January weather.

At the Blazing Star Trail entrance, cars filled the parking lot and others began to park across the street. All were coming to get on the trail and take advantage of the weather.

&uot;I love it,&uot; Arnie Venem of Albert Lea said. &uot;It’s bad for the snow-removal companies and snowmobile businesses, but it’s nice for most everyone else.&uot;

Venem said he walks on the trail every day, even when the weather is bad. But others got out just because of the comfortable conditions.

&uot;It was definitely the day that got me out here,&uot; said Anissa Biedermann of Albert Lea.

She said she hopes the weather continues like this.

&uot;I think it’s awesome,&uot; said. &uot;I’ve never seen it this nice in January.&uot;

At Albert Lea Country Club, the parking lot was relatively empty, but a few golfers had stopped by for a quick round.

Assistant Club Manager James Stripe said the course is closed the for winter, even through the warm days. But he said some members, those who couldn’t control their golfing bug through the stroke of warm weather, did manage to get on the course for a few holes.

&uot;We had a few die-hards who got out there and beat the ball around,&uot; Stripe said.

The club tries to keep golfers off of the course in the winter because it is bad for the turf, according to Stripe. He made a few exceptions for those in an obvious state of golf fever.

&uot;It’s not every year that you can say you played golf in January in Minnesota,&uot; Stripe said.

Highs today were expected in the high 40s again, but the warm spell could end by Thursday, when highs in Freeborn County are forecast for the upper 20s. The colder weather should stay through the weekend.