Spring 2023 Forecast: Is Wacky Weather in Store?
Weather and climate play significant roles in how you manage your properties. While you can plan plowing and de-icing, unexpected weather shifts complicate your plans. Detailed seasonal forecasts can give you a better idea of what lies ahead. Keep reading for your spring 2023 forecast, packed with essential information to help your groundskeeping and safety planning.
When Does Spring Begin in 2023?
The following vernal equinox occurs on March 20, 2023, at 5:24 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. It’s one of two yearly equinoxes when our sun appears directly overhead at the equator. As a result, every location on Earth experiences nearly equal 12-hour periods of day and night on this date. It also marks a seasonal change: spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere.
Earth’s seasons are a direct result of its rotational axial tilt. If you think of the orbital plane as horizontal, our planet’s axis is vertical relative to this plane. Where the two meet, it forms a 90-degree angle. However, our planet’s rotational axis isn’t perfectly vertical. Instead, it tilts 23.5 degrees away from Earth’s orbital axis.
Why Is Spring Weather So Unpredictable?
Spring may officially start in the Northern Hemisphere on March 20. However, even looking at the spring 2023 forecast, we know that weather patterns sometimes match what’s on the calendar. Record snowfalls during the summer months in many locations across the United States prove this point abundantly.
Weather and Climate Factors
When discussing the weather, we refer to six primary components: atmospheric pressure, cloudiness, humidity, precipitation, temperature, and wind. However, several factors influence weather conditions and climate as a whole. The acronym “LOWERN” is a handy mnemonic to help remember these factors:
- Latitude
- Ocean currents
- Wind
- Elevation
- Relief precipitation
- Nearness to water
Climate Change and Spring 2023 Weather
Some of these factors are unlikely to change for a given location: latitude, elevation, and nearness to water. Meanwhile, climate change has impacted others. For example, ocean currents are speeding up while wind speeds are slowing down and at the same time, precipitation levels are increasing.
As a result, spring 2023 weather may be even less predictable than in previous years. However, the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center can still extrapolate future conditions based on current data. Helpful inputs include cloud cover, sea surface temperatures, and regional soil moisture levels.
What Will Spring 2023 Weather Look Like?
We can sum up the spring 2023 forecast in two words: wet and cold. Much of the United States should experience below-normal temperatures. On the other hand, NOAA expects precipitation to be above typical levels in most of the country.
Cold and Wet for Most
Be ready to bundle up if you live in the Pacific Northwest, northern California, the northern Great Plains region, or the northern Rockies. Look for unseasonably cooler temperatures in the Great Basin, which includes Nevada and Utah, along with portions of California, Oregon, Wyoming, and Idaho.
NOAA predicts more rain and snow in the Pacific Northwest, northern Rockies, and northern Great Plains region. So keep your shovels and rain boots handy if you live between the Great Lakes and the Tennessee Valley.
Hot and Dry for Others
Not everyone may see a cold and wet spring. We may see near-normal temperatures in the Far West, including portions of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Conversely, NOAA anticipates above-normal temperatures for the Southwest and the eastern half of the continental United States. Parts of Alaska could also experience above-normal temperatures.
Unfortunately, many of these same areas may experience below-normal precipitation levels. As a result, Southern California could be drier than usual. Other drier regions this spring include the Gulf Coast, the central and southern Plains, and most of the South.
Planning With the Spring 2023 Forecast
Short-term weather forecasts help determine if you need an umbrella or should leave early for your commute. As strategic planning tools, seasonal outlooks can guide you in allocating resources to keep your properties attractive, accessible, and safe. At Grounds Control USA, we’re focused on the same goals. So let’s work together to simplify your business with our facilities management solutions. Schedule a consultation online or call us at (855) 464-2872.