Meteorological Spring Begins: How El Niño Could Impact Temps In MD

MARYLAND — High temperatures in Maryland are expected to be around 54 degrees Fahrenheit on Friday, the first day of meteorological spring.

Astronomical seasons change with equinoxes and solstices, determined by Earth’s tilt and the sun’s alignment over the equator. On that calendar, the vernal equinox on Tuesday, March 19, marks the official first day of spring.

Meteorological observing and forecasting led to the creation of the meteorological seasons, which are broken into four three-month blocks based on the actual temperature cycle and calendar. The meteorological seasons more closely reflect actual conditions than do astronomical seasons, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Environmental Education.

A recent forecast from The Weather Channel and Atmospheric G2 said spring will arrive early in most of the United States as an El Niño climate pattern falls apart after many areas saw a record-mild winter.

The National Weather Service forecast for Friday and into early March calls for mostly sunny skies Friday with a high near 54 degrees before spring showers move in for Saturday with a high of 56 degrees. On Sunday, the sunshine returns and we warm up to 67 degrees.

Generally, meteorological spring in the Northern Hemisphere is thought of as a three-month transition season from winter to summer that occurs in March, April and May.

Meteorological fall — September, October and November — is also thought of as a time of transition, from summer to winter. Meteorological summer starts June 1 and continues through August, and meteorological winter starts Dec. 1 and continues through February of the following year.

A look ahead at the spring forecast suggests Maryland is expected to see an unusually warm spring. Although the vernal equinox on March 19 is typically observed as the first day of spring, meteorological spring starts on March 1. After a record-mild winter so far in many parts of the country, spring should arrive early, according to the forecast from The Weather Channel and Atmospheric G2.

The outlook for Maryland calls for slightly above average temperatures for the state in March, except for the very southern tip of the state on either side of the Chesapeake Bay.

Related: Early Spring Possible In MD As El Niño Falls Apart: Forecast