Spring Weather May be Slower than the Groundhog Predicted

From grower to gardener, everyone’s awaiting the arrival of spring weather and the beginning of a new growing season.

We’re eager to slip on our gardening gloves, break out the patio furniture, tune-up the lawn mower and clean out our planting beds and flowerpots so they’re ready for the beautiful blossoms we’ll purchase from garden centers and nurseries.

But the big question on everyone’s mind is what will the spring weather be like in 2020? We turn to our friends at the Farmers Almanac for a trusted report on what lies ahead.

For the United States, it looks like Old Man Winter will be hanging around a little longer, regardless of the fact that Punxsutawney Phil predicted on early spring this year.

“According to our long-range outlook, spring will be slow to start with winter lingering across the Midwest, Great Lakes, Northeast and New England. Occasional wet snow and unseasonably chilly conditions will hang on for a ride that you may not be able to get off until April,” says the Almanac.

For those not living in the geographic regions mentioned above, you’ll have your own challenges to deal with.

“Much of the rest of the country will experience frequent and widespread precipitation. During the first week of April across the Plains states and parts of the Southwest, there may be a threat of strong-to-severe weather, with some storms capable of spawning tornado activity. Temperatures will run somewhat cool for most regions, even into June.”

As for those out West, it seems that drier weather will be predominant, though it may be reluctant to move to the east, and a cool, stormy spring seems to be on hand for those calling the South-Central states home.

For those living way up north in Canada, it looks like spring will not arrive early enough for some, as winter conditions will continue across Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes, right up into Newfoundland and Labrador.

“Occasional wet snow and unseasonably chilly conditions will hang on through March and into April,” according to the Almanac. “During the first week of April across the Great Lakes east into the Maritimes there may be the threat of strong-to-severe weather, with some storms capable of spawning tornado activity for parts of Ontario. Temperatures will run somewhat cool for most regions into June.”

While their formula for predicting the weather is still a secret, it’s estimated they have an 80% accuracy rate when it comes to predicting the weather for any given calendar year.

What does that mean for our spring weather? We might need to start practicing patience.b