Residents ditched their winter coats and hit the beach as warm weather came to the state Monday.

As News 12 New Jersey meteorologist James Gregorio reported, the temperature reached the mid to high 60s Monday.

Early risers took advantage of the mild morning and came to the boardwalk in Belmar to watch the sunrise. Many residents say the mild weather is something they always look forward to.

“It puts you in a good state of mind mentally and physically, because it gives you something to look forward to…” says Gus Lane, of Neptune City. “It makes me feel really great, it puts you in a good state of mind, and right now it's very important.”