North Carolina Looking at Wet, Hot Temperatures Heading Into Summer
It’s safe to say that people in the North Carolina area are ready for spring. It’s been a cold few weeks, even colder than is normal for this time, and I personally can’t wait to see spring flowers start to bloom. So, how long will we have to wait for spring to arrive? That’s a messy question with a messy answer, but the Farmer’s Almanac has released its official spring weather prediction for the U.S., so here’s what they believe we can expect from the coming spring months.
North Carolina Spring Weather According to the Farmer’s Almanac Says
So, when does spring officially start? According to the experts at the Farmer’s Almanac, “Traditionally, we celebrate the first day of spring on March 21, but astronomers and calendar manufacturers alike now say that the spring season starts on March 20 in all time zones in North America. Yet spring equinox marks the official start of the spring season.” National Calendar Day adds that “Spring begins on the March or vernal equinox, which is when the amount of sunshine is approximately 12 hours long. The amount of sunlight will incrementally increase until the first day of Summer.” So, spring runs from March 20 through June 20. Also, June 20 marks the longest day of the year, and after that, the days start getting shorter again.
Now, let’s get to the spring weather forecast from the Farmer’s Almanac. Looking at the U.S. as a whole, not just North Carolina, unfortunately, it’s looking like a late spring. The Farmer’s Almanac’s “long range weather forecast says spring weather will take its time arriving, allowing winter conditions to linger, especially across the Midwest, Great Lakes, New England, and Northeast regions.” They add that “an unusually late winter storm brings a blanket of rain, sleet, and snow across the Atlantic Seaboard and mountainous areas in the Southeast during the first week of April.”
Specifically, in North Carolina, for Memorial Day, “Heavy rains put a damper on the holiday weekend.” That’s not great news. But, the good thing is that for Easter in North Carolina, the Almanac predicts “pleasant” weather. In general, their spring forecast says to expect “warm, wet and thundery” weather for the spring season.
If you’re looking to garden this spring, the Farmer’s Almanac, of course, has some tips. One of their most important recommendations is to add nutrition to you soil. They note that enriching the soil by adding organic substances, such as “compost or decomposed manure,” can really help your plants thrive.