Spring is Coming Early for Some Parts of the U.S

Posted: March 4, 2023 10:00 pm

Despite the calendar reading early March, it definitely feels like the middle of spring in some parts of the U.S. In addition to the unseasonably warm temperatures and the early start to the severe weather season, many areas are also already experiencing blooming flowers and plants.

Record Warm Temperatures in 2023 Signal Early Spring

Temperatures across an area stretching from Texas to New York have recorded temperatures that are far above historical averages over the last several weeks. This is in direct contrast to Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction of six more weeks of winter. Numerous daily records came down in the south-central, southeastern, and mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S. last week as a high pressure area anchored over Bermuda shoved warm temperatures into the U.S.

Readings were more reminiscent of late spring than late winter for several major U.S. cities last week. For instance, Raleigh hit a high of 85 degrees on February 23, breaking the previous record that had stood since 1977. Nashville also reached the 85-degree mark on that same day, breaking a record from 1962.

What Plants Are Blooming Early?

The unseasonably warm temperatures have jump started the blooming process for many flowers and plants. The iconic bluebonnets of Austin have already started to show their colors, well ahead of schedule. This is no surprise when you learn that the capital city of Texas is currently experiencing its ninth warmest beginning to a calendar year. The daily maximum temperature since January 1 is hovering around 67.4 degrees, up from the average of 64 degrees.

Another bellwether bloom is the cherry blossoms that dot the landscape of the nation’s capital of Washington, D.C.. According to the National Park Service (NPS), these buds are already in the first of six stages of development.

The warmth has spread as far northward as New York City, causing trees to already begin to show leaf development. Temperatures in the Big Apple trended as high as 20 degrees above average on many days in February. The readings have been enough to put 2023 as the warmest start to the year on record. For instance, the city’s official weather station in Central Park is reporting temperatures that are almost 10 degrees above normal on average.

As a whole, it has been remarkably warm throughout much of the East Coast. Atlanta is boasting temperatures through February 22 that put it at the fifth warmest start to the year on the record books. This includes a record high of 81 degrees on February 22. Not only was this reading the highest temperature for that date in history but it was also the warmest temperature ever recorded for the meteorological winter.

Spring Leaf Index Anomaly Map

The USA National Phrenology group is charged with creating a spring leaf index anomaly map. This map demonstrates what parts of the country have already begun to see leaf growth while comparing this emergence to historical patterns. The agency’s map is showing that early spring is already underway across the Southeast, the Gulf Coast, and up through some parts of the mid-Atlantic.

The maps are created using both the honeysuckle and lilac plants as the barometers for measurement. The latest data from this map shows that it has been the earliest arrival to spring on record for many locations in the south-central and northeastern portions of the country.

In fact, the only large areas of the county not seeing an earlier than usual spring based on bud development data include parts of California, Arizona, Texas, Nevada, and New Mexico.

Although these budding flowers may be nice to look at, experts warn that they are also more vulnerable to withering away before they hit their peak bloom. This is because many areas are still at risk of seeing freezing temperatures that kill any developing flowers.

The long-range spring forecast is predicting that a significant portion of the eastern U.S. will be at risk of seeing a later than usual frost or freeze this year. This includes parts of the country that have already reported early plant blooms.

Not everyone will welcome the emergence of an early blooming season. Allergy sufferers will also be looking at a longer season of dealing with these pesky health issues when the buds come out earlier than is typical.

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