Wasn’t it nice Monday?

The air temperature reached 46 degrees. The west northwest wind was merely 7 mph. The sun was shining. People were wearing T-shirts outdoors.

Most of all, it was nice to see all that snow melting to water and flowing down the curbs into the gutters. Go away, snow. Go away, away, away.

In what has been the hardest winter since 1979, the people of the Albert Lea area deserved a bright day of warmth like Monday.

And even though the forecast calls for snow today with a high of 34, Old Man Winter seems to be losing. Highs of 41 and 40 are expected Thursday and Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

We know there is more wintry weather to come. After last year, when Albert Lea witnessed a snowstorm in May, we are hesitant to say the yucky stuff is on the way out.

However, we will say the door is open, spring weather. Come on in.