Believe it or not, spring is just around the corner! Will we be graced with a warm start to the season? Or will cooler weather hang around? Read on for weather predictions from The Old Farmer’s Almanac meteorologist Michael Steinberg!
The Almanac’s Forecast for Spring 2020
While winter may still have our attention for several more weeks, that doesn’t mean that we can’t start looking toward the season ahead. After all, that is what The Old Farmer’s Almanac has been doing for 228 years!
The next season begins, of course, with the spring equinox, which arrives on Thursday, March 19, at 11:50 P.M. Eastern Time—a little earlier than usual, thanks to the peculiarity of time zones. On this day, the Sun stands directly over Earth’s equator, and we can wake up knowing that we are inching ever closer to the longest day of the year, the summer solstice, on June 20, 2020.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves dreaming of summer weather just yet. First, let’s talk about the end of winter and the start of spring!
Marching Toward Spring
Although March will be cooler than normal across most of the United States and Canada, it will still be warmer than February has been, and the rising temperatures are a sure sign that warmer weather is on the horizon.
Before we get there, winter does still has some punch left in it, with mid-March snowstorms forecast for the Northeast, upper Midwest, High Plains, and Alaska, making St. Patrick’s Day more white than green. In late March, watch for snowstorms in Quebec and in the Lower Lakes, Heartland, and Intermountain regions of the United States.
To read more about what we’re predicting for the tail end of this winter, read our 2020 Winter Forecast.
What Weather Will Spring Bring?
Looking ahead to spring itself, we can expect above-normal temperatures in the eastern two-thirds of the contiguous United States, near-normal ones in the Pacific Northwest, and conditions cooler than normal elsewhere from the High Plains westward. Alaska will have above-normal temperatures, with below-normal readings in Hawaii.
Precipitation will be below normal in the Northeast, the mid-Atlantic region, southern Florida, the eastern Great Lakes, the Heartland, the Pacific Northwest, and Hawaii, but near or above normal elsewhere.
Expect lingering cold from Atlantic Canada westward into Quebec and also in the Prairies, with a quick transition to spring elsewhere across Canada.
Spring Storms Loom On the Horizon
Unfortunately, we’re anticipating near- to above-normal severe weather activity early in the spring storm season, with the greatest threats in the Southeast and Ohio Valley in March and from Colorado to North Dakota in April. Stay safe out there!
A Slow Start to Planting Season
The early spring forecast suggests we may be a little slow going into the spring planting season as well. Shots of cold will most likely occur in March. There may also be enough precipitation around that the ground stays fairly saturated in early spring, causing a delay in spring planting.
See More Forecasts from The Old Farmer’s Almanac
So, are you feeling ready for spring? We sure are. For more weather forecasts and folklore, pick up a copy of the 2020 Old Farmer’s Almanac!
Reader Comments
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Hoping that climate change
Hoping that climate change doesn't kill my 2 favorite seasons going forward...Fall & Winter....this year no snow in the NYC NE area....Fall was terrible with its lack of color.
weathering the seasons
The weather conditions of each season make them distinctive and also are so necessary for many perennials and even wildlife. We’re with you, BigSteve. Thanks for writing!
weather
when will the Northeast see some snow or a blizzard ( states like Pennsylvania, New York, Baltimore, etc. ) ?