Spring Forecast:South Could See Above-Average Temperatures As Northern Tier Is Stubbornly Cool

Here's Your Spring Outlook

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Spring is just around the corner,which means there is light at the end of the tunnel for those impacted by a siege of winter storms and bouts of arctic air since the start of the new year. But just how warm will that light be where you live?

The spring outlook issued by The Weather Now 24 and Atmospheric G2 on Thursday is here to help answer the question of who might be able to see winter's grasp let go sooner instead of later.

Next 3 Months:The Big Picture

• Shorts and t-shirts could make appearances often from much of the South northward into the mid-Mississippi Valley and Central Plains,where above-average temperatures are most likely from March through May as a whole. It could be much warmer than average in the Southern Plains and Southwest.
• T​he northern tier isn't expected to deviate too far from average. Locations in the Northwest and northern New England might have the greatest chance of stubbornly cold conditions in spring.
• Keep in mind this outlook is an overall three-month trend. Therefore,we will likely see periods that are warmer or colder in each respective region of the country when compared to what is shown above.

B​reaking Down The Month-By-Month Details

M​arch

• The start of spring could feel like it in much of the southern tier,where warmer-than-average temperatures are anticipated. The most above-average warmth is expected from the western edge of the lower Mississippi Valley to the Southern Plains and Southwest,including Dallas-Fort Worth,Houston and Phoenix.
• P​arts of the Northeast and Northwest might kick off spring somewhat colder than average. That includes Boston,Seattle and Portland,Oregon.
• "We aren’t too concerned about another notably cold month in March. On the other hand,anomalous late-season snow cover,especially in the northeastern quarter of the country should favor colder outcomes there at least into early March,"said Todd Crawford,Vice President of Meteorology at Atmospheric G2.

A​pril-May

• The expansiveness of above-average temperatures might nudge farther north in parts of the Midwest,Plains and Rockies as we head into April and then May.
• Areas from the Southwest into the Southern Plains and parts of the lower Mississippi Valley will continue to feature temperatures that are much warmer than average.
• The Northwest has the best shot at skewing colder than average from April into May.
• M​uch of the Northeast is forecast to trend near or slightly above average by May.

Chris Dolce has been a senior digital meteorologist with www.weathernow24.com for nearly 15 years after beginning his career with Weather Now 24 in the early 2000s.