Students might not need to wear their heavy winter jackets as temperatures rise this week.

This winter, locals faced weather that often dropped into the negatives and was accompanied by brutal winds. Even when March hit, students still faced weather in the single digits, and it has only recently begun to warm up.

NIU meteorologist Gilbert Sebenste said the rest of the week will have temperatures ranging from the mid 30s to the low 50s.

“Today we are going to have a high around 50 degrees, and that is almost going to feel like Miami weather compared to what we’ve had this winter,” Sebenste said.

Students like senior hospitality major Niya Everett are happy about the change in weather.

“I think it’s great that the temperature is increasing,” Everett said. “I think it’s time for this cold weather to be over.”

Similarly, senior hospitality major Stephanie Schwarz is enjoying the rise in temperature

“I think the warmer weather will get more people out and walking, and it will just be a lot better,” Schwarz said.

The warm weather is not going to be consistent, as Sebenste said a cold front will come during the weekend, dropping weather back in the mid to high 30s.