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What the heck just happened?

I just went for a drive, engine started fine (Idled pretty high as usual around 2400rpm initially then goes down when the engine warms) ran perfectly, after being out for 20minutes and after sitting at a standstill for about 3 or 4 minutes at a stoplight I pulled onto the freeway. This is only the 4th or 5th time the car has been driven but it ran fine for about a half or an hour last Sunday. I have been getting steam due to overflow through the water tank cap under hard acceleration - well I was getting steam billowing out the right side all the way down the freeway. The fan light came on. Engine ran fine all the way home which is about 3 miles but I had steam the whole way. Engine temp on the cockpit gauge read about 190 - it usually reads just over 160. When I parked the car in my garage steam just kept pouring out of the water tank - I used a towel to loosen the tank cap and the coolant was boiling. At this point I decided it would be good to release the pressure which probably was wrong thinking - I removed the cap entirely and am frankly amazed that I wasn't burned all over, it was like a volcano, I think all the coolant in the car came out in seconds, everywere in the garage including the ceiling.

So what's the deal? Do I need a new radiator, bigger fans? I can't help the fact that there is a red light now and again. What is wrong here?
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