Meteorological Spring Begins Monday

(KNSI) – Today begins meteorological spring, as defined by March, April, and May. It differs from astronomical spring, or the vernal equinox, in that meteorologists break down the seasons into three month groupings based on “based on the annual temperature cycle as well as our calendar,” according to NOAA. Astronomical spring begins on March 20, 2021.

After a relatively mild winter, save for the extreme cold snap last month, what does the first month of meteorological spring have in store for central Minnesota? Tyler Hasenstein with the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Chanhassen says March will come in like a lamb and stay that way.

“As far as the earliest part of March goes, we might be cold for days one and two, but immediately after that, we’re probably looking at warmer than normal for the beginning of March and drier than normal. So no real active weather systems to speak of. And then that doesn’t really change until we get into the end of the second week in March.”

For the spring flood forecast, Hasenstein says with the lack of snowpack, some areas are under the threat of drought, and that really won’t change much. Forecast models show some rain later this month, but not enough to turn that around.

He says the frost layer is fairly healthy thanks to the last plunge into the deep freeze in February, and that, coupled with lows that are sub-freezing overnight, that will help with gradual runoff when the snow does melt.

The forecast shows overnight lows in the 20s and highs in the 40s for the rest of the week. The average daily high at the end of March is 49.