While the spring equinox doesn’t occur until March 19 (early this year and not seen since 2020), what we call ‘meteorological spring’ begins Friday. For climate data and record-keeping, we divide the season by the months rather than dates, so March-April-May is spring!
Despite any date, Mother Nature has a way of telling us when spring is happening, whether with blooming flowers or increased pollen counts!
RELATED: HOUSTON’S POLLEN PREDICAMENT
Climate Central released their spring report today and in Houston, we’ve seen an average increase in spring temperatures of almost 4° over the past fifty years:
However, in Houston we fell well-below the top spring warming cities across the country: Reno, Nev. (6.8°F); El Paso, Texas (6.3°F); Las Vegas, Nev. (6.2°F); Tucson, Ariz. (6°F); Phoenix, Ariz. (5.3°F); Albany, Ga. (5.3°F); and Chattanooga, Tenn. (5°F).
- READ MORE: Spotting those unusual Houston clouds
Not surprising, the country as a whole has increased 2-5° with the exception of a slightly cooler upper Midwest:
Most major cities, on average, are experiencing an average of 7 more warmer-than-average spring days. Certainly that seems to be the case across southeast Texas. Looking all the way to the middle of March, other than tomorrow morning when drop to 50°, most temperatures are in the 60s and 70s for both lows and highs.
What to make of it? Warmer sooner means pollen sooner and mosquitoes sooner, but also growing season happens sooner which, given our drought-prone atmosphere these days, perhaps that is a big plus. Make hay while the sun is shining! Or at least when you have warm weather and rain!
By the way, today’s cold front won’t really help with these pollen issues--the strong winds will blow those nasty catkins off the trees if they aren’t already and the pollen in the air will just be swirled around, not away.
Good luck!
Frank
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