By Lindsay Hocker, lhocker@qconline.com

More photos from this shoot

Photo: John Greenwood Matt Sharpe signals to Tom Unley, of Unley Marine, Rock Island, to continue backing a 42-foot cruiser into the Mississippi River at the Rock Island 18th Ave. boat ramp Wednesday morning. The men said the boat owners were thrilled to get their boat into the water.

More photos from this shoot

Photo: John Greenwood People flocked to Prospect Park in Moline to walk, fish and rest as the temperature continued to climb throughout the day.

Wednesday's high of 78 degrees was a March 14 record for Moline.

National Weather Service meteorologist Mike McClure said the previous record for that date in Moline was 77 in 1995. He noted record highs also were set in several other Midwest cities Wednesday, including Burlington and Dubuque.

Normally at this time of year, Quad-Cities' temperatures only reach into the upper-40s, he said.

The next five or six days look like they will be similar, Mr. McClure said, with 70s "widespread." There are some chances for showers and thunderstorms on Thursday and Friday, he said, but NWS information puts those chances at 20 percent.

Rainfall chances reach 70 percent Saturday night, according to the NWS, with up to 0.3 inches possible.