High temperatures in the Twin Cities marched into the mid-80s on Sunday, and western Minnesota came close to reaching the highest reading ever recorded in October in the state.

It was 97 in Wheaton and Moorhead, close to the 98-degree mark reached in 1963 in Beardsley, Minn.

In the metro area, an 85-year-old record of 84 was topped at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, with an official Twin Cities high of 85 recorded shortly after 4:30 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

The previous high for the date was set in 1930. The average high for an Oct. 11 in the Twin Cities is 61.

The hottest of hot spots were western Minnesota's Moorhead and Wheaton at 97.

Appleton, Montevideo and Granite Falls climbed to 93. Bemidji and Orr touched 90, and it was 88 in International Falls.

Paul Walsh — Star Tribune, Star Tribune
The tall buildings of Minneapolis caught the morning sun Sunday morning.

Up and down the Mississippi River near downtown Minneapolis, the summerlike surroundings brought out bicyclists, rollerbladers and runners galore.

Bill and Mariann Sharp, of Maple Grove, brought their bikes into town and put 28 miles behind them, taking in the Chain of Lakes and Uptown while they were at it.

"Last weekend, when it was in the 50s, I couldn't do it," Mariann Sharp said. "This is just so amazing. This blue sky is so energizing."

At the University of Minnesota, student Maddie Schnettler sported a tank top, flip-flops and shorts while puzzling over her chemistry at a picnic table.

"I'm starting to sweat, so I might move to the shade," said Schnettler, of St. Cloud. "I wanted to go for a run, but it's almost too hot."

On Monday, highs in the more seasonable low 60s — with brisk winds — will head into the Twin Cities and last into midweek, the Weather Service said.