Pull out the shorts, sandals and sunglasses – a late winter heat wave is hitting Lawrence.

“Temperatures will be soaring into the mid 70s today, ” said Jennifer Schack, 6News meteorologist. Skies are expected to clear out later this afternoon, Schack said.

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At noon, the temperature at Lawrence Municipal Airport was 64 degrees, the humidity was 45 percent and winds were from the south at 3 mph.

This morning’s low was 29 degrees. The average low for this date is 30 degrees. The record low is minus 5 degrees, set in 1962.

“We’re heading up to 76 degrees today, which is 6 degrees warmer than yesterday,” Schack said. The average high temperature for this date is 50 degrees. The record high is 78 degrees, set in 1932. Winds will be from the south, at 5 to 10 mph, she said.

Overnight, temperatures will fall to 49 degrees by early Wednesday morning, with southwest winds, 8 to 12 mph, Schack said.

Wednesday’s high will be 74 degrees, with partly cloudy skies, she said. Winds will be from the southwest at 5 to 15 mph, she said.

Then they’ll switch to northwesterly winds, as a cold front moves, Schack said. Thursday morning’s low will be 36 degrees, with the high reaching 58 under partly cloudy skies, she said.

February has had only a trace of precipitation, she said. The next chance for rain is Saturday, she said.