By Olivia Scheck
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — It's hard to believe winter had an icy grasp on Manhattan only a few days ago.
The mercury rose to the high 50s in the morning, and was expected to hit 65 degrees Friday — flirting with 1981's record breaking 68 degrees, according to AccuWeather.com.
"It's a pleasure not to be freezing," said Midtown resident Shelly Shipper, in her 50s, while walking her dog on Friday morning.
"She likes it too!" Shipper added, referring to the ponytailed shih tzu.
Other residents and visitors took to Central Park to soak up the unseasonably warm weather.
Men in suits cut though the park on their way to work, while a class of school children painted the trees in watercolor. Several people jogged in shorts and t-shirts.
"It's a great day for a walk through the park," said New Jersey mom Jean Gastfriend, 54, who was inspired by the cheerful forecast to venture into the city. "This is much better than being here during the blizzard."
She and a friend, Dan Hiepler, 58, were making the most of the weather with a walk through Central Park before a visit to the Metropolitan Museum.
But it wasn't all good news, as meteorologists warned of strong winds throughout the day.
Central Park hotdog vendor Mohammed Hossain, 41, said he was hoping the warm weather would draw visitors to the park, but grew concerned when he saw that the morning was overcast.
"They said it was gonna be sunny but I don't see it," Hossain said, noting that heavy snowfall earlier this winter had forced him to take time off.
"When it's too cold I can't work…December, January, February I only worked three-days-a-week."
Sunshine began to break through the cloud in the afternoon.
But, unfortunately for Hossain, forecasters warned that the warm weather would not last long, with highs predicted to be in the low 40s on Saturday and Sunday, AccuWeather said.
By Sunday, Friday's temperate weather may seem a distant memory. Temperatures were expected to drop to the low 30s, with the possibility of rain and even snow overnight, according to the weather site.
