Greetings, springtime! While the calendar indicates that spring is still a few weeks away, meteorologists have their own criteria for defining seasons. According to their standards, spring officially commenced at midnight on Saturday as February gave way to March. Despite a lack of major snowstorms and record-breaking temperatures in late February, the transition into March typically brings about fluctuating and extreme weather conditions as winter and spring clash.
The upcoming season seems to follow this pattern. Here are some key points to note about the spring forecast:
Diminished likelihood of major blizzards in the Northeast
The noteworthy update is that the Northeast may have avoided significant blizzards this winter, as noted by AccuWeather meteorologist Paul Pastelok. While occasional incursions of cold air are still expected, with some snow showers in the I-95 corridor from Washington to Boston in the first half of March, any unseasonably cold temperatures in the central and eastern U.S. later in the month or early April are projected to bring cooler and unsettled weather rather than harsh Arctic cold.
Overall, weather models indicate that the U.S. is not anticipated to experience further Arctic air in the coming weeks, with a trend towards warmer temperatures expected following the middle of March, particularly east of the Rockies, as emphasized by NOAA meteorologist Michael Musher.
Early March weather outlook
The National Weather Service forecasts much above-normal temperatures in the Rockies and Plains states on Sunday, gradually advancing eastward. The northern Plains may experience notably warm conditions, up to 15 to 20 degrees above normal, through Monday. While the East might face colder temperatures than usual on Sunday, a return to normal temperatures is expected by Monday-Tuesday, with warmth surpassing normal levels by Wednesday.
Looking ahead to spring
Weather.com meteorologist Jonathan Erdman anticipates above-average temperatures across the southern half of the country from March to May, particularly in the Southern Plains and Desert Southwest. Conversely, a cooler and wetter March is expected for Oregon, Washington, and parts of Idaho. Federal scientists at the Climate Prediction Center have also issued a similar forecast.
In terms of precipitation, the central U.S., particularly the Midwest and Great Lakes region, is at risk for heavy rain and potential flooding from March to May. Meanwhile, the Southwest faces ongoing drought concerns, with a dry forecast for the region during this period.
Potential for severe weather
The first significant threat of severe weather in March is on the horizon.
A weather system is expected to bring stormy conditions across parts of the southern Plains and the lower Mississippi Valley on Tuesday before moving towards the Appalachians, Gulf Coast, and Eastern Seaboard on Wednesday. Meteorologists from AccuWeather are cautioning about this impending weather pattern. Thankfully, subsequent systems in the following days are not anticipated to be as intense, according to Pastelok. He mentioned that although March may not see much severe weather activity overall, things are likely to ramp up come April. This article was originally published on USA TODAY under the title: “Winter is over (sort of). Here’s the USA spring weather forecast.”
