First Spring Outlooks: Here's What To Expect In Puget Sound

WASHINGTON — The first day of spring is Sunday, March 20, with the vernal equinox, but meteorological spring is the one that counts when it comes to getting outside — especially when we get an extra hour of sunlight at the end of the day when daylight saving time begins.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac said in its spring 2022 forecast that warmer-than-normal spring temperatures, except in the desert Southwest and Florida, where temperatures are expected to be slightly below normal this spring.

Precipitation will be above normal in parts of the South; the Midwest; a large swath of the western United States, stretching from the Rockies into the Pacific Northwest, and from Arizona westward into California; and in Hawaii.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac customized its spring forecast for each of the 18 zones, including the western portions of Washington and Oregon. Overall, the Pacific Northwest is due for a slightly warmer and rainier April and May.

In the near term, the Old Farmer's Almanac sees a cool and rainy mid-March leading into a sunny and warm end to the month. The average temperature forecast is in line with March normals, at 47 degrees, and with slightly above-normal precipitation. Average temperatures for April are forecast to tick up to an above-average 52 degrees.

Released last month, the competing Farmers’ Almanac spring outlook calls for unseasonably cold temperatures on the first day of spring, with a warmer season ahead and normal precipitation expected for the Pacific Northwest.

Overall, Northern-tier states will see near-normal temperatures, while Southern-tier states will see somewhat cooler-than-normal conditions. The one exception is the Southwest, where it will be warm to hot.

Also, the second week of May is expected to be unseasonably cool across much of the United States.

A wetter-than-normal spring is expected over the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, Midwest and South Central States, while the opposite is expected in the Northeast and Southwest.

A “meteorological swizzle stick” is expected to stir up snow, wind, rain and severe thunderstorms, with some possibly spawning tornadoes, from the Rockies through the Plains.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Wednesday it would unveil its 2022 spring outlook next Thursday, March 17. NOAA's official outlooks offer detailed insights on what climatologists expect for drought conditions, temperatures and precipitation, along with updated projections on flood risks.