When Will It Feel Like Spring In MI?

MICHIGAN — Winter is winding down in Michigan with the start of meteorological spring less than a month away, but don’t plan on putting away the cold weather gear anytime soon, AccuWeather said Wednesday with the release of its 2005 spring forecast.

Meteorological spring starts on Saturday, March 1. Astronomical spring begins with the March equinox 5:01 a.m. ET on Thursday, March 20.

Here’s how the private weather company sees spring shaping up in Michigan:

It might feel like winter still, at least to start spring in Michigan. AccuWeather forecasters predict cold air will stick around in Michigan at least through April with temperatures 1 to 2 degrees below average.

Moreover, the lingering winter weather might also be a concern for farmers and gardeners, as the late season frost could threaten crops.

AccuWeather forecasters believe the late season cold air will help suppress any severe weather across Michigan heading into May.

Spring Snapshot Across The U.S.

The first weeks of spring may feel more like winter across the northern half of the United States due to a turbulent transition between the seasons, Paul Pastelok, AccuWeather’s long-term forecast expert, said one of the coldest Januarys in years caused more ice to form on the Great Lakes, which will suppress the early spring warmup across the Midwest and parts of the Northeast.

At the same time, a persistent pattern of stormy weather in the Pacific Northwest is expected to mean a colder start to spring.

“The storm track in the West can retreat quickly and center more over the Pacific Northwest and western Canada by March,” Pastelok said. “The transition to spring will be near average or faster across the central Rockies.”

Temperatures are expected to warm quickly in the southern U.S. during February and early March.

AccuWeather said the seesaw pattern between milder spring air and bursts of cooler air could trigger some late-season snow across the interior Northeast and the Midwest.

The severe weather season is expected to be similar to last year’s with the frequency of tornadoes and damaging storms increasing as spring progresses. AccuWeather said there’s one major difference — the epicenter is expected to shift from traditional “tornado alley” to cities such as Chicago, St. Louis, Memphis and others in the Mississippi and Tennessee valleys.

The cooler air around the Great Lakes should tamp down severe weather across most of the Midwest and Northeast until May.

Rain and thunderstorms are expected to be common across from the Plains through the Southeast. Florida may miss the rainfall and see drought conditions by May, Pastelok said.

The Southwest is expected to remain dry and heat up quickly, which AccuWeather said will allow drought to expand and intensify from Southern California to the southwestern Plains. The warmest temperatures of spring are expected to be found in Arizona, New Mexico and western Texas.