It’s time to say farewell to winter and hello to spring. The start of meteorological spring is just a week away and with temperatures climbing to near 70 degrees this week, that spring feel is definitely in the air. 

You may think, spring is just about milder temperatures, more daylight, the start of allergy season and flowers starting to bloom; but you may be surprised by other facts you never knew about the spring.  

The first day of the spring season is called the vernal equinox. This name is taken from two Latin words: “vernal” and “equinox”, which translate to “spring” and “equal night.” In fact, the dates on which day and night are each 12 hours occur a few days before and after the equinoxes. The specific dates for this occurrence are different for different latitudes. 

You may have even heard about spring fever. Is it real or is it fake? According to the Scientific American, some studies have shown a change in seasons can affect human moods and behavior. “In a study of 500 individuals in the U.S. and Canada, [Matthew Keller of the University of Colorado at Boulder] found that the more time people spend outside on a sunny spring day, the better their mood.”  

Even though we’re transitioning to a warmer season, major snowstorms can still occur in the spring. For instance, “The Great Blizzard of 1888” occurred March 12-14. It hammered the Northeast with unofficially 45 inches of snow in New Haven, Connecticut, with wind gusts as high as 80 mph. It took New York City almost two weeks to recover. In recent years, March has brought in some big snowstorms from 7-8+ inches of snowfall in New York City. 

Severe weather often occurs during the spring, too. As the sun warms the ground and the air around it, it mixes with cold air from above. This creates an unstable air mass where thunderstorms can strive in. 

During the spring, we can see anywhere from major nor’easters to severe thunderstorms. Your Storm Watch team will continue to keep you up to date for the latest weather conditions in this upcoming season.