While Punxsutawney Phil is predicting six more weeks of winter, warmer temperatures are on the way, according to experts.
AccuWeather released its spring weather forecast last week, and for Virginia, it appears that we are in for some warm spells in the month of March.
One can hope it will be enough to melt this snowcrete (what the Virginia Department of Transportation is calling the heavy ice in the Shenandoah Valley) in time for spring flowers to emerge.
“Spring seems so far away but can’t come soon enough,” said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tom Kines. “The warm spells in the month of March will have a greater departure from normal than those in April and May.”
For the record, Phil only gets the prediction correct 35 to 40 percent of the time, so for those of us wishing for an early end to winter, seeing his shadow might actually actually be a good thing.
Spring officially begins on Friday, March 20.
On the whole, temperatures this spring will be about normal when you factor in conditions in March, April and May.
“For instance, we might have days in March with temperatures 20 degrees above the historical average, but April and May, any warm spells might only be five to 10 degrees above the historical average.”
While there are cold spells likely in April and May, Kines said they are not expected to interfere with planting.
So while the good news is that warmer weather appears to be on the way, if there is bad news, it is that conditions are expected to be dry in March.
ICYMI
A drought warning was issued in mid-January to 22 counties and 13 cities in Virginia including Northern Virginia, the Shenandoah Valley and Roanoke River regions of the state.
“We are looking for a dry March which isn’t good for the drought and probably raises the threat of wildfires and brush fires,” said Kines. “But good news, we expect April and May to have typical rainfall which will help alleviate the dry conditions.”
AccuWeather will release its severe weather and tornado forecast on March 4.