Early Spring Possible In VA, DC As El Niño Falls Apart: Forecast

VIRGINIA — Most of the United States, including Virginia and Washington, D.C., is expected to see an unusually warm spring, according to a new forecast.

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.

Here’s the outlook for D.C. and Virginia:

March: Expect slightly above average temperatures for the Northern Virginia counties and D.C. in March, while most of Virginia may see slightly below average temperatures, according to The Weather Channel. Maryland, except for the very southern tip of the state on either side of the Chesapeake Bay, will also experience slightly above average temperatures.

April: All of the Commonwealth and the District will see temperatures slightly above average in April. The rest of the mid-Atlantic region also warms up from the previous month.

May: The April trends in Virginia and DC will be even warmer for the northern half of the state, with above average temperatures as spring comes to a close. According to The Weather Channel, the warmest spot relative to May averages is likely to be the upper Midwest to northern New England.

The only areas of the country that aren’t expected to see earlier than normal warmth are areas of the Southeast. In the northern tier of states, spring is expected to be especially warm, while other areas of the country are expected to see above-normal or slightly above-normal temperatures,

A rapidly deteriorating El Niño climate pattern could mean a busier hurricane season and more active severe weather seasons or parts of the central U.S., Todd Crawford, vice president of meteorology at Atmospheric G2, said in a story for The Weather Channel.

“Given the expected rapid transition from El Niño to La Niña, and the increasing global warming trend, it has become difficult to forecast anything but anomalous warmth as we head towards summer,” he said.

Less scientifically, Punxsutawney Phil didn’t see his shadow on Groundhog Day, Feb. 2. According to lore, that meant winter would continue another six weeks, or until about March 15.

• Related: Did Groundhog Punxsutawney Phil See His Shadow?