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

CONNECTICUT — Most of the United States, including Connecticut, 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 Connecticut:

The north-south split in temperatures that we've had this winter is likely to continue and possibly amplify in the first month of meteorological spring, according to the forecast. The Weather Channel maps show all of Connecticut sitting comfortably within the "warmer-than-last-year" region.

…and it only gets better, come April, when a warmer shift is set to begin. Temperatures are likely to remain above average in 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.

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, Chuckles XI, Connecticut's "official" prognosticating groundhog, 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?