Brilliant Sunshine

Keeping in mind that I spent months training in the extended Midwest winter through freezing rain, snow, sleet, cold rain, wind and sub 35 degree temperatures, one might realize that this weather report would make me a bit... say, apprehensive? Did the author actually have to use the word, "Brilliant?" I mean, was he looking for extra credit in a creative writing class? I'm thinking "Sunny," might have captured it without taking me all the way over the edge.