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

CONNECTICUT — High temperatures in Connecticut are expected to be around 43 to 44 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 clear skies going into the weekend, but showers on Saturday and most of the day Sunday, with highs reaching 55 degrees before the end of the weekend.

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.

That look at the season ahead suggests Connecticut will be enjoying warmer-than-last year weather throughout March, according to the forecast. Come April, when a warmer shift is set to begin. Temperatures are likely to remain above average throughout the northern U.S. while staying near or slightly below average in the Southeast, the meteorologists said. In May, the warmest spot relative to historical averages is likely to be the upper Midwest to northern New England, including Connecticut.

• Related: Spring May Come Early In CT As El Niño Falls Apart: Forecast