SPRING IN NOVEMBER BRINGS RECORD HIGHS OVER PAST THREE DAYS

Golfers love the record-high temperatures the past few days, but the warm, sunny weather has made sweaters a tough sell.

Record highs have been set the past three days, said Dr. Al Robertson, a retired Southeast Missouri State University earth sciences professor who keeps track of weather in Cape Girardeau. Using readings from Cape Girweather by hitting the links at Bent Creek Golf Course in Jackson and Jaycee Municipal Golf Course in Cape Girardeau. Repretatives at each course said there have been two to three times as many golfers as usual the past three days."When the weather is warm like this, the long-sleeve shirts come off, the shorts go on and golfing is just more fun than when it's cold," said Sabrina Tate, golf coordinator at Jaycee Municipal Golf Course.

Golfers want to get out and play while the warm weather lasts, said Jason Owen, pro shop attendant at Bent Creek Golf Course.

Warmer temperatures should last at least through Saturday, said Chris Noles, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Paducah, Ky.

In an almost summer-like weather pattern, the jet stream is to the north, anchoring warm, dry air over the area, Noles said. But forecasters predict a storm system from Canada will blow into the area Sunday or Monday, lowering high temperatures by about 20 degrees, he said.

That's good news for people like Renea Borum, a senior merchandise manager at JCPenney in Cape Girardeau, who has been trying to sell sweaters and coats to people dressed in shorts and T-shirts."These days when people buy something, they want to wear it right away" Borum said. So cooler temperatures are good for coat and sweater sales. Cold weather also boosts sales of Christmas items, she said. "People feel more like Christmas shopping when it feels more like Christmas," Borum said.