Records: A daily double

For the second straight day, the official thermometer at Philadelphia International Airport hit 82 at 3:38 p.m.Thursday, creaming the old record for the date of 76, set 10 years ago.

That matched Wednesday's record high of 82, the normal high for a June 13 in Philadelphia.

This has been the most-impressive stretch of pre-equinoctial March warmth since 1990, when the temperature reached 80 or better on five consecutive days starting on the 12th.

The final tally isn't it, but Thursday's temperatures are running neck-and-neck with Wednesday, with the official high was a record 82. Normally, 80s don't show up until June.

In addition, the temperature overnight Thursday never got below 57 at the airport, the National Weather Service reports; the old record for the highest minimum temperature for a March 10 was 56, also in 2006.

It's not unusual for the populace to complain that nature has decided to skip spring and go right to summer – but usually not until late May or early June.

Among the millions who aren't complaining is Casey Buchanan, the general manager of the popular Handel's ice-cream franchise store, situated for 10 years on Lancaster Avenue in Berwyn, Chester County.

"It's been great for our business," he said Thursday. "I think we'll be riding this wave through tomorrow."

He acknowledged, however, that  "We weren't quite prepared for this. I'm a little nervous about my inventory. I might have to switch up flavors."

A sign in front of the shop reads, "Please don't give up ice cream for Lent."

Evidently, some folks are complying.