Colorado Springs residents fired up their air conditioning this week as temperatures soared to record levels for March. The unseasonably warm weather has people talking — some with excitement, others with concern.

The high temperature broke a record that had stood for over 30 years, according to the National Weather Service. While many residents took advantage of the weather for hiking and outdoor dining, others pointed to the broader climate trend.

"It's beautiful today, but this isn't normal," said one local meteorologist. "We're seeing a pattern of increasingly extreme temperature swings."

The warm spell is expected to be short-lived, with more seasonal temperatures returning by the weekend. But the conversation about what "normal" March weather looks like in Colorado Springs continues to evolve.