The arctic cold that put Maine into a deep freeze slowly released its hold Friday as temperatures began moderating and forecasters predicted temperatures into the 20s over the weekend.

By late afternoon, temperatures had topped zero across virtually the entire state – a welcome relief after several days of subzero temperatures and wind chills that were routinely colder than 20 below zero.

“The warm-up is on,” said National Weather Service meteorologist John Cannon.

The warmer air first began filtering into northern Maine from Canada Friday morning. By noon, a bank temperature sign in Van Buren read 7 degrees – which was 40 degrees warmer than the 33-below zero reading earlier in the day at Kathleen Cyr’s house.

“We’re having a heat wave,” said Cyr, the town clerk.

During the cold spell, which began Tuesday night, temperatures sank below minus 30 in places and wind chills approached 60 below zero at times.

Most of the state remained below zero all of Wednesday and Thursday, forcing some schools and ski areas to close.

The governor issued an emergency proclamation so heating oil delivery drivers could remain on the road for longer hours to make sure people had enough oil in their furnaces.

The cold also created problems for emergency response services.

In Bangor, a historic four-story building that caught fire Thursday night became encased in ice from water from firefighters’ hoses as temperatures fell to minus 14.

The mist from the spray turned into snow and accumulated in deep drifts around the base of the Old Masonic Hall, said Assistant Chief Scott Bostock.

The building turned into a block of ice, and firefighters feared it would tumble down from the added weight, Bostock said.

In Van Buren, several firefighters had to be treated for frostbite after putting out a fire in a potato storage shed Thursday.

Early Friday morning, temperatures were colder than minus 10 across most of Maine, and the weather service reported temperatures of minus 29 in Danforth, minus 28 in Connor and 27 below zero in Washburn. In southern Maine, Portland registered minus 11.

When the temperatures began rising Friday, it felt relatively warm – even though temperatures weren’t projected to get out the teens. For Saturday, temperatures were expected in the 20s across most of the state and up to 30 degrees along the southern coast.

Still, winds were expected to be 15 to 25 mph on Saturday, which will make it feel cold. Winds were expected to die down on Sunday.

For now, people are embracing the warmer temperatures. Cyr, in Van Buren, said she’s looking forward to wearing fewer layers of clothes and being able to do something as simple as walking down the street.

“You don’t see people in the streets,” she said. “You can’t walk very far before you get frostbite.”

AP-ES-01-16-04 1638EST